Rev Kathy

A Night Devoid of Stars

August 4, 2016 Rev Kathy

The newscasts report on our enemies. The politicians call out their names, adding that we should kill them before they kill us. They call them by name: “radical Islamic terrorists.” “ISIS.” “Al-Qaeda.” The list could go on.

We watch the bloodshed on our televisions. We entertain fear of the terrorism that could happen anywhere, at any time. There is no shortage of people who demonize our enemies.

To be sure, there is danger swirling about us. But as Christians, how do we justify killing and carnage? How do we justify millions of refugees trying to find a safe place to call home? I have no sure and certain answers to such wrenching questions. But my better self calls on these words from Dr. King.

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How shall we then live without adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars?

Faith, God's Faithfulness

Sunlight and Shadow

August 3, 2016 Rev Kathy

Like most people, I have experienced both sunlight and shadow in my life. I have learned some very important lessons on how to thrive in either. Sunlit days are not so hard. But days filled with shadows can be exhausting. Those shadowy days definitely test my resolve, my courage and my resilience.

Shadowy days are filled with questions, with sadness, with trials in many forms. I survived such days, sometimes barely. But I did survive, and from there I can offer a witness to the utter and graceful faithfulness of God.

Shadowy days call to mind one of my favorite passages in the Bible.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed . . .

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

I have been cast down in my life, but never destroyed. Never in utter despair. Never forsaken by a loving God. I leave you today with the words of Bishop Steven Charleston.

I cannot take away what troubles you the most and I would not offer you easy answers to your hardest questions. Like you, I have been around long enough to know that sadness is a long distance runner and that healing is never a work of magic. All I can honestly offer is a witness, a shared moment of common sense experience, a reminder that life is far less fragile than we might imagine. We do survive. We heal. We reconcile. We do find an answer and we do change. Shadows cannot exist without sunlight, but sunlight can exist without shadows.

Faith, Transformation

We See God

August 2, 2016 Rev Kathy

In the living of our days, at special times, we see God. Just when we least expect it! In the flutter of a hummingbird’s wings. In the whisper of the evening breeze. In the steady drop of gentle rain. In the sunset. In the moonlight. In the birdsong.

When we most need to, we see God. And every time, our hearts burn within us at the glory of God’s presence with us.

To be sure, it doesn’t happen often enough. We have dry days, days of feeling empty and uninspired, days when God does not seem near at all. We travel those days alone, it seems. And yet we remember the words Jesus spoke in his last days on earth.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither does it know him him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

John 14:17-19

Yes, we do see God. We see God in so many ways, at so many times. And in those holy times, our hearts burn within us.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

And they said one to another, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

Luke 24:30-33 (KJV)

I see God just when I most need to. When I see God, the Holy Spirit stirs my heart and comforts my soul. No matter what difficulty I am facing, the Comforter dwells within me and holds me close until the trial passes. When I see God, I am transformed, even if just for a moment.

God's Faithfulness

Just a Tiny Speck

August 1, 2016 Rev Kathy

You and I are but a minuscule speck of dust in a vast universe. Yet, that reality doesn’t mean we are insignificant. Jesus talked about how the “very number of hairs on each of our heads is numbered.” (Matthew 10:30) even if we feel insignificant, we are very significant to the God who knows every sparrow that falls to the ground.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 New King James Version (NKJV)

Knowing this soothes us when we feel small and unimportant, when the world knocks us to the ground. Knowing that God knows us brings great comfort when we feel small and weak. When life circumstances beat us down, we have this good word from the God of the universe.

For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Psalm 139:13-15 RSV

Certainly, it is true that we are just a tiny speck in the universe, but we are a speck of great value to the God who created us.

Faith, Grace, Hope, Inspiration

Holy Sunday Morning

July 31, 2016 Rev Kathy

Sunday morning. A day of rest. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” To do that today, I share with you the words of one of my favorite poems, “Desiderata.” It has wisdom for the living of these days.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann, “Desiderata”

Freedom, Hope, Politics

God Bless Us Everyone

July 30, 2016 Rev Kathy

We are, it seems, in a season of discontent, an often vitriolic presidential campaign that threatens to divide us. Even in my own family, there is strong disagreement on the merits of the presidential candidates. There is no shortage of name-calling in virtually every news report.

We are better than that. At our core, we long for the same freedoms. Our best selves want a bright and new day of unity in our country. We want the sun to rise on fresh hope and better tomorrows. We desire to live out the Scripture that admonishes us to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.

I want to share with you the eloquent and inspiring words spoken by the Rev. Dr. William Barber, II on Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention:

I say to you tonight, there are some issues that are not left versus right, liberal versus conservative, they are right versus wrong. We need to embrace our deepest moral values and push for a revival of the heart of our democracy . . .

When we love the Jewish child and the Palestinian child, the Muslim and the Christian and the Hindu and the Buddhist and those who have no faith but they love this nation, we are reviving the heart of our democracy. . .

We must shock this nation with the power of love. We must shock this nation with the power of mercy. We must shock this nation and fight for justice for all. We can’t give up on the heart of our democracy, not now, not ever!

May God guide all of us as we exercise our right to speak and to vote. May God give us an extra measure of respect when we don’t agree. May respectful dialogue replace name-calling and vitriolic speech. May we emerge in November as a people united and determined to be the best we can be. God bless us everyone. And God bless America.

Miracles

Giving Thanks for the Memories

July 29, 2016 Rev Kathy

Retirement can bring a plethora of memories, good memories and some not so good. Giving up a life of ministry leaves a gaping hole in life. Everything and everyone moves on. Most of us are not designated “pastor emeritus.” Yet, our ministry was so much a part of our lives that retirement causes a large, empty space. All those who called upon us to speak or do workshops at various functions have moved on to younger ministers.

On the wall are myriad certificates of education and experience. The shelves are filled with awards and memories of being honored. I look at them now and again and remember fondly all that happened in my past.

Then I move into the present, which fortunately, is mostly a place of contentment. Like many retired ministers, I do feel discarded and forgotten at times, as if my years of experience mean nothing. No one remembers the angst that accompanied my calling and ordination. No one recalls the rancor leveled at all Baptist women seeking ordination in those days. No one seems to remember that women had to work harder and longer than our male colleagues. The newspapers reported the upheaval surrounding our call to a ministry position. No one seems to remember the glorious community-wide celebration when a woman actually found a place of ministry.

But I remember. I remember it well. And although memories can be painful, my life is also filled with sweet memories. I have made peace with retirement and that is a good thing. My memories give me joy and comfort as I remember so many times of ministry, so many different people who graced my life. So I say thanks for the memories. The good far outweighed the bad.

Courage, healing, Hope

Strong at the Broken Places

July 28, 2016 Rev Kathy

The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.
– Ernest Hemingway

It’s true. I’m told by a medical expert that when a broken limb fully heals, it is stronger than the original bone. In like manner, when someone is broken emotionally, they emerge stronger and more resilient. I have a dear friend who was broken by military sexual assault. The perpetrator was not held accountable for his actions. My friend also had multiple physical injuries that required several surgeries. She went through a time of night terrors and fought post traumatic stress for years.

But that is not the end of her story. With great tenacity and courage, she pulled herself up and out of despondency. She organized a public filming of the documentary film, “The Invisible War.” She told her story. She reached out to other sexual assault victims. She wrote letters to political leaders until her voice was finally heard when she testified before a Congressional committee in Washington.

She was strong at the broken places, and today she continues her advocacy with grace and grit. I salute you, Ginny.

Faith, Fear, God's Faithfulness

Fear Not

July 27, 2016 Rev Kathy

I have experienced real fear. I am experiencing it today, in fact, because I am not feeling well, and because of my kidney disease, the stakes are higher when I am not well.

I also experienced fear more than a year ago during a hospitalization. When the emergency team rushed to my bedside, I was overcome with fear, not understanding exactly what was happening, not knowing the outcome of the emergency procedures.

Obviously I survived that day, and I emerged with a stronger faith in God. During those critical days, with fear and uncertainty as my close companions, so many comforting scriptures came to mind.

From Isaiah 41 . . . Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

From Isaiah 43 . . . Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

From Psalm 27 . . . The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”

And from Deuteronomy 31 . . . And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.

What incredible comfort I found in those words! The time of crisis passed. But I took those words with me to call to mind on another day. Today is such a day.

Fear, grief, Suffering

The Darkness of Suffering

July 26, 2016 Rev Kathy

I spent four years as a hospital chaplain, nine years as a pastor, and eleven years as a trauma counselor working with victims of violence. During those years, I learned a great deal about suffering. I observed it, empathized with it and prayed over it. I tried to discover ways to enter into the suffering with those who were drowning in it. But suffering with others is a complicated and difficult task. Feeling sympathy is easy. Knowing about a person’s suffering is easy. But entering into the suffering of others, being with them in their suffering, is very difficult.

The words of Gordon Cosby ring true to me:

Compassion is to know the pain and suffering of others. Not to know about the suffering and pain of others, but in some way to actually know that pain—to enter it, hear it, taste it, let it in. We talk about getting in touch with our feelings, and that is central to our freedom. The complementary step is to get in touch with the feelings of others. This necessitates getting into their frame of reference, their way of perceiving. Others’ way of seeing might seem wrong or distorted, yet it still is their experience of life…. In part, knowing that someone understands and feels our pain is the relief we need, even if nothing more can be done.

– N. Gordon Cosby
Source: Seized by the Power of a Great Affection

One additional lesson the years taught me: Suffering is much more than pain. Suffering is more than grief. Suffering is the deep-down and relentless assault of one’s soul and spirit. It is utter darkness. It is feeling alienated from the healing God. It is feeling completely alone in an abyss of unrelieved torment.

Medication cannot touch it. Sympathy cards, flowers and covered dishes cannot ease it. Only presence is effective, abiding presence with the sufferer, entering into deepest silence, being near to dry the tears that won’t stop, sitting vigil for as long as it takes.

May God give us the inner strength to suffer with those who suffer, to share with them the healing, renewing grace of a compassionate God.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you.

– Isaiah 43:2

Beauty of Nature, Hope, Inspiration, Light

When the Moon Is New

July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 Rev Kathy

A new moon holds a hint of promise to me. It’s a sign of hope, an event that will lead to something fuller. It marks starting over, the beginning of something that will fully bloom into something more magnificent. New moon refers to the first visible crescent of the moon.

Some religious groups, such as the New Israelites of Peru, keep the new moon as a Sabbath of rest. No work may be done from dusk until dusk, and religious services run for 11 hours, although a large number of the devoted worshippers spend 24 hours within the gates of the temples, sleeping and singing praises throughout the night.

In many faith traditions, the new moon is viewed as a special time. For me, the beauty of a new moon is breathtaking. Though my faith does not commemorate the new moon in any special way, I am often moved to offer praise to the God who created it. And praising God is always a good thing.

When the moon is new . . . It’s a time of wonder, a promise of hope, a new beginning, and a very appropriate time to praise the One who created the moon and the stars as gifts for us.

Contemplation, Dreams, peace, Serenity

Serenity . . . The Peace of God

July 24, 2016 Rev Kathy

Even in retirement, I find it difficult to set aside quiet hours, hours of peace and serenity. I tend to get caught up in current politics, the news of the day, and all of the interruptions that come up. Yet, I need quiet time. I need times of reflection and contemplation. It is during those quiet times that I find the peace of God. I find serenity and find myself dreaming new dreams again.

Bishop Steven Charleston writes about the gift of God’s peace that waits “beyond the clam our of the day.”

Quiet the hours that surround us, still the moments through which we pass. The peace of God is a gift, freely given, to any and to all, waiting just beyond the clamor of the day, available to whoever will receive it. No illness or strife, no worry or hurt can keep this calm hand from reaching us, no distance, no time. The feeling of what is holy is serenity, an assurance that love will never be lost, that mercy is as certain as forgiveness, that none of us has walked this way without reason. Heaven waits behind closed eyes, the other world of what is now, the blessing we were born to live.

Indeed, we were born to live this blessing and to find what is holy in our times of serenity. And so I work to keep out distractions and worries, reaching out for the calm hand of God.

Courage, Freedom

Out on the Fringe

July 23, 2016 Rev Kathy

I have often found myself out on the fringe, out of step with those around me, almost subversive in my thoughts and actions. Not subversive in a negative way, understand, but subversive in the ways of justice and peace. I am grateful that I have a sensitive spirit that feels compassion for those who are what we might call “the outcasts.” I am grateful that God gave me the gift of empathy.

But with gifts, there are always responsibilities. It is not enough just to feel empathy. I must act on it, advocating for those who need an advocate, or as Jesus might say, “seeking justice for the oppressed.”

Doing so might very well put me out on the fringe. Steven Charleston describes it like this:

I would like to say a brief word in support of the lunatic fringe. I have been a card carrying “fringer” for quite some time now, out here on the margins of polite society where the really interesting people hang out. I have met wild eyed dreamers, optimistic visionaries, unrepentant seekers, and more than a few average folks who just like to think for themselves. Out here there are no party lines to follow, no castes or outcasts, no gated communities of the heart. There are only envelopes being pushed, barriers being broken, and love being risked as love always is. I just want to say: I am glad to have you out here with me.

I hope I will always be out on the fringe pushing the envelope!

Fear, God's Faithfulness, Prayer, sadness

Night Prayers

July 22, 2016 Rev Kathy

I have had some dark nights of the soul in my life. And it seems that when night falls, the fear is greater, the mourning is harder, the sorrow is more intense, the Lonliness is almost unbearable. In those times, I would pray for the morning, hoping beyond hope that I would survive the night. Sleep would not come and I spent hours worrying. I spent many of those kinds of nights in the hospital, fearful, lonely, worried about my health and wondering if I would ever get well.

I can remember that during those long nights, I would call my husband for support. The time didn’t matter. I might call at 1:00am or even closer to the dawn. My husband was always faithful to talk me through the night crisis.

But when I was completely alone, my prayers emerged from the depths of worry and fear. I was almost desperate to talk to God and hear God’s voice of comfort.

Steven Charleston describes night prayers.

Night is drawing near. Soon the night prayers will begin. The after-hours prayers. The prayers without the need for words. Spoken from the heart, the language of those who work the late shift of sorrow. Night prayers turn bar rooms into churches, motels into cathedrals, truck stops into shrines. Night prayers are first time prayers, last chance prayers, prayers tossed up into the stars to see if anyone is there to catch them. Prayers without expectation. Tonight I will pray with the midnight seekers and the far from home angels. I will offer my own night prayer. For them, with them, in the congregation of the all night diner.

I love the words that speak of tossing prayers “up into the air to see if anyone is there to catch them.” I can attest to the fact that God was always there to hear my night prayers. Thanks be to God.

Inspiration, simple joys, sunrise

Into the Sunrise

July 21, 2016 Rev Kathy

I rarely, if ever, see a real live sunrise. First of all, I am usually asleep. And then if I do wake up in time, there are too many trees and buildings to see the sun at its rising. It’s a shame, really, to miss such a magnificent act of nature, to miss one of life’s simple joys.

So I have learned that, if there are things worth seeing in life, I have to make a concerted effort to see them.

I imagine watching a sunrise and feeling a sense of new life.

The beginning of a new day might remind me of new beginnings in life.

The brilliance of a rising sun might reveal the brightness of new hope.

Since I have not seen a sunrise in a very long time, I do not really know what emotions the sight might bring out in me. So it’s worth the effort to make the effort, I think. It’s worth losing a bit of sleep just to look into the sunrise and take in the awe of the experience. I think I’ll try it soon.

Life storms

Storms

July 20, 2016 Rev Kathy

My husband loves thunderstorms. Sitting on the porch during a storm is one of his favorite things to do. As for me, I have a childhood memory that makes me somewhat afraid of storms. At the first clap of thunder, my grandmother would turn off all the lights in the house and gather us next to her on the sofa. Whenever she heard a clap of thunder, she would let out a blood-curdling scream.

Lesson to young grandchildren: Be terrified of thunderstorms.

So thunderstorms tend to frighten me to this day. Yet, there is something very cleansing about a thunderstorm pelting the earth with rain. When it’s over, there is a sense of calm, maybe even a rainbow. And that always reminds me that storms don’t last forever. There is a calm after every storm that brings a kind of peace in me. Perhaps it is just relief that the storm has ended and everyone is safe.

And then there is the reality that storms of the soul do often threaten us, but they, too, come to an end, leaving us with a grateful heart that we survived yet again.

Africa, Friendship, Generosity

Fourteen Cows

July 19, 2016July 19, 2016 Rev Kathy

In a beautiful gesture of sympathy following the 9/11 attacks, the Kenyan Masai tribespeople gave American diplomats 14 cows.

For the Masai people, the cow is valued above all possessions and the gift of a cow is the highest expression of regard and sympathy

The cattle – regarded as sacred by the Masai – were handed over to William Brancick, deputy head of the United States embassy in Kenya, in a remote village near the border with Tanzania.

The gift was arranged by Kimeli Naiyomah, a Kenyan-born man who was studying in New York at the time of the disaster.

“This is the ultimate gift a Masai can give,” Mr Naiyomah told Reuters news agency.

“I knew my people, I knew they are merciful – they can be fierce and deadly when provoked – but they are also the type of people who can easily cry for the pain of other people.”

The ceremony was marked by tribespeople in traditional red robes and jewelry, some of whom carried banners saying “To the people of America, we give these cows to help you”

The US national anthem played as the herdsmen handed over the cattle.

What a gesture of generosity and compassion, given by a people who have so little . . . no running water, electricity, or means of communication with the world outside of their villages. Would that we who have so much might be as generous to those in need.

This story was reported by BBC News: World Edition on Monday, June 3, 2002.

Courage, Faith, Fear, God's Faithfulness, Hope

Courage

July 18, 2016 Rev Kathy

I want to live life with courage, having the strength to greet the unexpected and the audacity to hope for better things. To be sure, courage is not always easy to come by. The assailants we face — change, aging, illness — are formidable foes. Fear is one of our life realities. But the words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true.

Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.

Eleanor Roosevelt
You Learn By Living (1960)

I have learned that I really do have the strength to stare down difficult times. I have found courage in myself when I least expected to find it. I have stood firm and steadfast before illness, betrayal and personal crisis, and I remain standing as a testimony to the power of courage and the faithfulness of God. I am grateful for the crucible that is my life, for it has been a welcome catalyst for growth, strength, courage, and even hope!

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord.

Psalm 31:24 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is the One who goes with you. God will not leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

Adventures, Inspiration, Life storms

Fly with Your Wind

July 17, 2016 Rev Kathy

While a friend of mine was driving through the plains of Oklahoma, he marveled at miles and miles of vast rolling plains of grasses and the strong winds that were making them sway. Then he noticed something else every few miles: trees in perfect rows. And he wondered why the trees grew in almost perfect rows. As he contemplated the phenomenon, he realized that when the trees seed, the seeds are blown in the direction of the wind and thus the trees are growing in the direction of the wind. The wind shapes the vegetation and literally shapes the landscape.

Our lives are guided by winds, too. Winds of change. Winds from storms. Gentle, refreshing winds. Winds of bitter cold. Winds that blow in the heat of summer. The breezes change us, challenge us, and sometimes restore us.

We become who we are as the winds blow across our lives, leaving us different than we were before. I enjoy the writing of C. JoyBell C.

I don’t believe in fighting the wind. You go and you fly with your wind. Let everyone else catch their own gusts of wind and let them fly with their own gusts of wind, and you go and you fly with yours.

Fly with your wind. Sounds to me like wise advice.

Uncategorized

Change

July 16, 2016 Rev Kathy

Like most humans, I resist change. It’s so much more comforting to be in the same place, with the same people, and under the same set of circumstances. But circumstances change, people go away, and sometimes you have to leave your safe place.

We changed places over a year ago, leaving a thirty-three year home for another state. We never thought we would relocate from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Macon, Georgia, but that is exactly what we did. And we left behind, long-time friends, children and grandchildren.

It was the most difficult change I can ever remember, and it took its toll on us emotionally. Still, looking back, I can see benefits, good outcomes and gifts. God made the change one of grace, and I am stronger and better for it.

Guess what? I am still resisting change whenever I face it. But I rest on the wise and challenging words of C. JoyBell C.

We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea. Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don’t have something better.