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A Few Words from Pastor Bryan...
…and Danielle LaPorte
I'm a huge fan of Danielle LaPorte and her writing and podcasting. She's gritty and funny and wise and raw and authentic and I trust her. I think many of you will appreciate this message from her below. But first just a very few words from me this week.
More and more I think the divisions in our world these days are less about left/right, conservative/progressive, communist/capitalist, or even top/bottom. I think they are between those who are committed to what is best for everyone and everything (for others as well as for oneself), and between those who are committed only to what's best for oneself (and perhaps others in one's "class"). I think that one of the most important and consequential choices we humans are here on earth to make is to clearly decide whether life is about "me getting mine" or about everyone working together for the well-being of everyone. From a biblical perspective, one of the primary purposes of being a human is to use our God-given free will to decide between the path of self (the small "s" ego self) or the path of the well-being of all. It's a lifelong process and we always struggle with the pull of our ego--"progress not perfection" as is often said in 12-step circles--but at some point we need to decide just what kind of person we're going to be, and what it means to be committed to that path.
Jesus, among other things, is God showing us what a person completely given to the path of service to all looks like. It's the path of Truth, Love, Kindness, Compassion, and Justice. Jesus told us clearly that those on this path will do our best to love God with everything we've got, and that we'll show that by how we treat others. When we are on this path of Love, the Spirit of God is alive and flowing in and through us. Over time, certain attributes, characteristics, and commitments will naturally blossom in our lives, much the way a flower blossoms or fruit grows on a fruit tree. The apostle Paul actually named 9 "fruits of the Spirit" in Galatians 5. They are goodness, kindness, patience, faithfulness, self-control, love, joy, peace and gentleness.
It has occurred to me recently as I've watched what is happening in our world... that "efficiency" is NOT a fruit of the Spirit. Oh it's not a bad thing by any means either. Who doesn't want to be efficient? But efficiency in the hands of those committed to the path of the well-being of all will serve the well-being of all. That wasn't double speak. It's just a simple statement of truth. And more to the point, efficiency in the hands of those committed only to themselves will serve the agenda of those only committed to themselves.
Just a little something to think about these days, for "those who have ears to hear."
Let's follow the way of Jesus together. Let's love God with our whole beings, and show that we do by standing and working for the well-being of everyone and everything.
Hope to see you in church this Sunday,
Pastor Bryan
Danielle LaPorte—A Monk and a Sandwich
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his sibling in need, yet closes their heart against them, how does God's love abide in that person? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. — 1 John 3:17-18
I’ve been wondering how we could each and collectively wake the heck up to the basics of Love. You too? So, I have a little story about a monk and a sandwich to share. But first, I’m going to unpack the definition of Common Sense and rant for a minute.
Common is… common ground. Human Family. All from the same source.
“Common” means all sentient beings.
Sense is… Wisdom. And Wisdom is a root virtue, a Soul Quality that naturally considers everyone in the problem and the solution. The best way to tell if an idea is wise or not is to see if it takes all of the players into consideration.
How might this proposed solution, policy, practice harm or benefit the different parties involved? Benefit, good. Harm, bad.
Like, when you’re a farmer you want happy chickens, but you also need happy coyotes. They each have a role to play in the ecosystem.
Sense = benefit.
Common Sense = the benefit of all sentient beings. Not just “some.” Duh.
Humanity’s Common Sense tank is running on empty. Our mad shadow is surfacing. OUR shadow. Not "THEIRS." There is only ONE COLLECTIVE SHADOW—and we all scoop from it.
If we think the madness is spewing from just the faction that’s in opposition to our beliefs—the crazed Conservatives, or the hypnotized woke, or the kill-ALL-the-animals! carnivores, or the delusional vegans… Or the New Christians or the New Agers, or the ignorant v*ax’d or the freedom fighters, the foolish trad wives or the angry feminists… then we’ve already missed the Common in Common Sense.
(BTW, in the cacophony of social input that is my DMs and Facebook comments, I’ve been “accused” of being all of the above in one way or another. No one can seem to figure out which side I’m on. I can clear that up fast: I play for Team Love.)
Most every individual on this planet right now, on the fringe or in the mainstream, is grappling with fierce shadow and judgment surfacing. If it’s not self-hatred and judgment, it’s fear of the future.
The collective ego is fighting for its life—and it tries to stay alive by picking sides and ignoring the fundamental needs of humanity. Divide to conquer.
Rant complete. My little monk n’ sandwich story doesn't match the size of my heartbreak—or Faith, in humanity. But I hope we’ll buy more sandwiches for each other.
I was on a flight seated next to a Buddhist monk in crimson robes. Mr. Flight Attendant goes by with the food cart. Monk says, "Sandwich please.” Flight attendant tells him, “That’ll be $8.” Monk is very confused.
“But I am hungry,” says the monk.
Now the flight attendant is confused. “Well, okay. It’s $8.” “I don’t have money,” the monk asserts—not seeing how this could be a problem. He puts his hand out for the sandwich. “I am hungry.”
Mr. Flight Attendant is flustered. He asks the monk if he has a credit card. Inside, part of me is laughing, part of me is enraged. The monk gets a bit indignant and repeats himself, “I am hungry.”
I catch the flight attendant’s eye and (unnecessarily) translate, in a whisper, “He doesn't have money,” intonating that, like, the monk ACTUALLY doesn't have money—vow of poverty ‘n all—and like, what can we do about this? We connected. It was warm.
“You know what?” the flustered attendant exhales to the monk, “it’s my birthday today and I’m going to buy you a sandwich!” He swiped his own credit card and handed the monk a ham ‘n cheese. (Side note: are flight attendants not empowered to give free food when it’s obviously the right thing to do? I mean…)
The monk didn’t really understand that there’d been a payment transaction. He just nodded with appreciation and peeled off that sandwich wrap like he hadn’t eaten in days. Maybe he hadn’t.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” — Matthew 25:35
Common Sense may appear to be counterculture, but it’s not counterintuitive.
Follow your heart people. More times than not it knows what needs to be done, and it has countless ways of responding with love--if we dare.
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