A friend inspired me to look into the sense of mystery that is very often a part of our faith journey. My friend inspired me to reflect on the importance of "The Dark Night of the Soul" and to delve a little more into that mystery.
Inspired, I searched for writings by Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, contemplative monastics of Sixteenth Century Spain. Could not find their writings, but found a book my wife had given me when were in Texas, The Dark Night of the Soul, by Gerald G. May, M.D.
May is a Psychiatrist and a Theologian. May is now Senior Fellow in Contemplative Theology and Psychology at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Maryland.His book is based on John and Teresa and gives a real good insight into their understanding (and some modern misunderstandings) of the Dark Night. He then explorers the connection between Darkness and spiritual growth. Spent some time this morning re-acquanting myself, with Teresa, John and Dr. May. I read the forward and the introduction and the first chapter and want to share some of his insights as well as some of the Poetry of John and Teresa.
Some of these thoughts and quotes will be quite random, but will give a sense of how others see this darkness. I will give page numbers for context.
“At some point I gave up trying to decide what’s ultimately good or bad. I truly do not know. Although not knowing may itself seem like a bad thing, I am convinced it is one of the great gifts of the dark night of the soul. To be immersed in mystery can be verty distressing at first, but over time I have found immense relief in it….There have been many spiritual lessons to be sure, but they’ve been given to me in the course of life; I haven’t had to figure out a single one.”(TDNOTS, p. 2,3)
“One of the biggest lessons is the realization that I’m not as much in control of life as I’d like to be.”(p.3)
“Like not knowing and lack of control, freedom and gratitude are abiding characteristics of the dark night.”(p.3)
According to May, the dark night is much more significant than simple misfortune. “it is a deep transformation, a movement toward indescribable freedom and joy. And in truth, it doesn’t always have to be unpleasant!”(p.4)…..”The dark night is a profoundly good thing. It is an ongoing spiritual process in which we are liberated from attachments and compulsions and empowered to live and love more freely. Sometimes this letting go of old ways is painful, occasionally even devastating. But this is not why the night is called “dark.” The darkness of the night implies nothing sinister, only that the liberation takes place in hidden ways, beneath our knowledge and understanding. It happens mysteriously, in secret, and beyond our conscious control. For that reason it can be disturbing or even scary, but in the end it always works to our benefit.”(p.4,5)
More than anything, I think the dark night of the soul gives meaning to life.”(p.5)
I will end this reflection with a poem by John of the Cross (p.7)
Noche Oscura (The Dark Night)
!OH noche que guiaste! Oh you guiding night!
!Oh noche amable mas Oh night more kindly
que el alborada! than the dawn!
!Oh noche que juntaste Oh you night that united
Amado con amada, Lover with beloved,
amada en el Amado the beloved in the Lover
Transformada! Transformed!
Hope you enjoy this. I will have more reflections on this soon.
Peace,
Ben
Friday, October 29, 2010
Rightousnes, Humility and Exaltation
Luke 18:9-14 records Jesus’ parable of the Pharasee and the Tax Collector, a story of a man who trusted himself and who regarded others with comtempt. The Pharasee was standing by himself praing thusly, God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I give away a tenth of my income. But the Tax Collector, standing far off, would not even look up to haven, but beat his breast and said, God be merciful to me a sinner. Jesus said, I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
What a great message from Jesus. One that is just as relavent today as it was two thousand years ago. The temptation in our culture just as in Jesus’ is to imagine that we are autonomous and self-sufficent, and most likely better than the other. Whoever the other happens to be. Against this idea, the text attests that a good life is a gift from God that is lived back to God. The fact is that self-reliance has acute limitations and that the reliance upon God is a bottomless assurance of a well-being we cannot generate for ourselves.
The Hebrew Prophet, Joel, living and working some five hundred years before Jesus helps us understand the joy and confidence of a life lived in relieance upon God.
O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame. Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:23-32)
What a wonderful assurance and blessing, to know that God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, upon all people, so that we might never, ever be put to shame and that we will dream dreams and see visions. Visions of the Kingdom of God to which we are all invited live and to share.
Blessings and Peace,
Ben Alford
What a great message from Jesus. One that is just as relavent today as it was two thousand years ago. The temptation in our culture just as in Jesus’ is to imagine that we are autonomous and self-sufficent, and most likely better than the other. Whoever the other happens to be. Against this idea, the text attests that a good life is a gift from God that is lived back to God. The fact is that self-reliance has acute limitations and that the reliance upon God is a bottomless assurance of a well-being we cannot generate for ourselves.
The Hebrew Prophet, Joel, living and working some five hundred years before Jesus helps us understand the joy and confidence of a life lived in relieance upon God.
O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame. Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:23-32)
What a wonderful assurance and blessing, to know that God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, upon all people, so that we might never, ever be put to shame and that we will dream dreams and see visions. Visions of the Kingdom of God to which we are all invited live and to share.
Blessings and Peace,
Ben Alford
Friday, October 15, 2010
Reflections on A Pastoral Letter from the Episcopal House of Bishops
The Bishops of the Episcopal Church met in Phoenix, Arizona in the middle of September. As a part of their time together the traveled to the United States, Mexico border, spending time talking with immigrants, migrants, border patrol personal, local ranchers, business people and Christian Communities. After spending time with the people who are dealing with the very real spiritual, political and economic issues of immigration in our country, they wrote a letter to the church. I am pleased to share with you a portion of that letter as well as a link that will give you more information if you desire.
They began their letter with two readings from Scripture. There shall be for you and the resident alien a single statute, a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you and the alien shall be alike before the Lord. You and the alien who resides with you shall have the same law and the same ordinance (Numbers 15:15-16).
So [Christ] came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:17-19).
A few of their thoughts follow:
”Holy Scripture teaches us that all human beings are made in the image of God, and that Jesus Christ gave his life for all people. Furthermore, both the Old and New Testaments declare the importance of hospitality to resident alien and strangers, a hospitality that rests on our common humanity. All human beings are therefore deserving of dignity and respect, as we affirm in our Baptismal Covenant (Book of Common Prayer, p.305). So our gracious welcome of immigrants, documented or undocumented, is a reflection of God’s grace poured out on us and on all. In this light:
(1) Ours is a migratory world in which many people move across borders to escape poverty, hunger, injustice and violence. We categorically reject efforts to criminalize undocumented migrants and immigrants, and deplore the separation of families and the unnecessary incarceration of undocumented workers. Since, as we are convinced, it is natural to seek gainful employment to sustain oneself and one’s family, we cannot agree that the efforts of undocumented workers to feed and shelter their households through honest labor are criminal.
(2) We profess that inhumane policies directed against undocumented persons (raids, separation of families, denial of health services) are intolerable on religious and humanitarian grounds, as is attested by the consensus of a wide range of religious bodies on this matter.
(3) We call on the government of the United States and all governments to create fair and humane immigration policies that honor the dignity of people on all sides of this issue. In the United States, we seek a reasonable path to citizenship for undocumented workers; a plan to reunite families; and a viable system for receiving temporary or seasonal guest-workers, with clearly identified points of entry. These measures would free the United States border patrol to concentrate its efforts on the apprehension of drug traffickers, terrorists, and other criminals, and not on ordinary people who are simply seeking a better life for themselves and their children.
(4) We acknowledge the duty of governments to protect their people, including the securing of borders. The church has always respected this duty, which is grounded in government’s God-given duty to protect innocent people and punish wrongdoers (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).
(7) We do not discount the concerns of our fellow citizens regarding the danger uncontrolled immigration poses to our safety and economic well-being. We insist, however, that these concerns be approached within the broader context of a national commitment and covenant to inclusion and fellowship across all lines for the sake of the common good.
(8) We take seriously our commitment to and responsibility for our fellow citizens, as we strive to face the spiritual, moral and economic challenges of life in all sixteen nations represented in The Episcopal Church. We call on our fellow citizens to remember that the good of a nation lies beyond its own self-interest, toward a vision of a humanity restored in Jesus Christ, for in him “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).”
For more prayerful reflection you might find the following web link helpful. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/HOB_theological_resource_on_immigration.pdf]
Blessings and Peace,
Ben Alford
They began their letter with two readings from Scripture. There shall be for you and the resident alien a single statute, a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you and the alien shall be alike before the Lord. You and the alien who resides with you shall have the same law and the same ordinance (Numbers 15:15-16).
So [Christ] came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:17-19).
A few of their thoughts follow:
”Holy Scripture teaches us that all human beings are made in the image of God, and that Jesus Christ gave his life for all people. Furthermore, both the Old and New Testaments declare the importance of hospitality to resident alien and strangers, a hospitality that rests on our common humanity. All human beings are therefore deserving of dignity and respect, as we affirm in our Baptismal Covenant (Book of Common Prayer, p.305). So our gracious welcome of immigrants, documented or undocumented, is a reflection of God’s grace poured out on us and on all. In this light:
(1) Ours is a migratory world in which many people move across borders to escape poverty, hunger, injustice and violence. We categorically reject efforts to criminalize undocumented migrants and immigrants, and deplore the separation of families and the unnecessary incarceration of undocumented workers. Since, as we are convinced, it is natural to seek gainful employment to sustain oneself and one’s family, we cannot agree that the efforts of undocumented workers to feed and shelter their households through honest labor are criminal.
(2) We profess that inhumane policies directed against undocumented persons (raids, separation of families, denial of health services) are intolerable on religious and humanitarian grounds, as is attested by the consensus of a wide range of religious bodies on this matter.
(3) We call on the government of the United States and all governments to create fair and humane immigration policies that honor the dignity of people on all sides of this issue. In the United States, we seek a reasonable path to citizenship for undocumented workers; a plan to reunite families; and a viable system for receiving temporary or seasonal guest-workers, with clearly identified points of entry. These measures would free the United States border patrol to concentrate its efforts on the apprehension of drug traffickers, terrorists, and other criminals, and not on ordinary people who are simply seeking a better life for themselves and their children.
(4) We acknowledge the duty of governments to protect their people, including the securing of borders. The church has always respected this duty, which is grounded in government’s God-given duty to protect innocent people and punish wrongdoers (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).
(7) We do not discount the concerns of our fellow citizens regarding the danger uncontrolled immigration poses to our safety and economic well-being. We insist, however, that these concerns be approached within the broader context of a national commitment and covenant to inclusion and fellowship across all lines for the sake of the common good.
(8) We take seriously our commitment to and responsibility for our fellow citizens, as we strive to face the spiritual, moral and economic challenges of life in all sixteen nations represented in The Episcopal Church. We call on our fellow citizens to remember that the good of a nation lies beyond its own self-interest, toward a vision of a humanity restored in Jesus Christ, for in him “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).”
For more prayerful reflection you might find the following web link helpful. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/HOB_theological_resource_on_immigration.pdf]
Blessings and Peace,
Ben Alford
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Greatful Living
I have been thinking a lot about being thankful lately. Especially since the “cold front” came through on Sunday, preceded by the wonderful rain. As I have enjoyed the wonderful weather, I have also been very busy at work with many good things happening as well as some challenging things. I might add that challenging and good activities are not necessarily exclusive.
As I have been reflecting on the past two or three weeks, I ran across a book that helped me focus on ways in which to be grateful in all things, the good, the bad and the challenging. The book is entitled Uncommon Gratitude, Alleluia For All That Is. It is written by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Sister Joan Chittister, a Benedictine Nun. I find it interesting how often we meet a person or a book that speak directly to our lives at any given moment. I am so inspired by their reflections on this life and how to “sing Alleluia” (“praise God”) in all situations that I want to share just a few of their thoughts and reflections with you.
Their basic primes is that “God is a mystery in which we live every moment of every day, and that the human condition is a bundle of gifts wrapped in darkness, the life task of which is to learn to recognize Goodness/Godness in all its misty forms.” The challenge they have set before themselves and us is to learn how to deal with the moments in our lives that do not feel like alleluia moments at all. I begin where they began, by looking at what Faith is and what it means to live a “Life of Faith.”
“The truth is that faith requires the awareness that God is and that God is holding all of us responsible for the other (whoever the other happens to be). It is not getting the rest of the world to think and worship as we do that qualifies as real religion. It is giving ourselves for the welfare of the rest of the world to which we are called.”
“Faith is belief that God is leading us to become in tune with the universe. Faith is trust in the unknown goodness of life without demand for certainty in the science of it. Faith is belief that the God we call ‘our God’ is either the God of all or cannot possibly be God at all. Faith is confidence in darkness, for the willingness to trust in the deep-down humanity of others as well as in our own. Faith is the willingness to see God at work in others as well as in ourselves. And finally, faith is the certainty that God is working through others just as certainly as God is working through us for the good of all people.”
With this kind of faith as the foundation of our lives, perhaps we can begin to see the world and our lives differently. With this kind of faith as our foundation, we as God’s people throughout the world can join together and sing, “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia for all that is!”
Blessings and Peace,
Ben Alford
As I have been reflecting on the past two or three weeks, I ran across a book that helped me focus on ways in which to be grateful in all things, the good, the bad and the challenging. The book is entitled Uncommon Gratitude, Alleluia For All That Is. It is written by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Sister Joan Chittister, a Benedictine Nun. I find it interesting how often we meet a person or a book that speak directly to our lives at any given moment. I am so inspired by their reflections on this life and how to “sing Alleluia” (“praise God”) in all situations that I want to share just a few of their thoughts and reflections with you.
Their basic primes is that “God is a mystery in which we live every moment of every day, and that the human condition is a bundle of gifts wrapped in darkness, the life task of which is to learn to recognize Goodness/Godness in all its misty forms.” The challenge they have set before themselves and us is to learn how to deal with the moments in our lives that do not feel like alleluia moments at all. I begin where they began, by looking at what Faith is and what it means to live a “Life of Faith.”
“The truth is that faith requires the awareness that God is and that God is holding all of us responsible for the other (whoever the other happens to be). It is not getting the rest of the world to think and worship as we do that qualifies as real religion. It is giving ourselves for the welfare of the rest of the world to which we are called.”
“Faith is belief that God is leading us to become in tune with the universe. Faith is trust in the unknown goodness of life without demand for certainty in the science of it. Faith is belief that the God we call ‘our God’ is either the God of all or cannot possibly be God at all. Faith is confidence in darkness, for the willingness to trust in the deep-down humanity of others as well as in our own. Faith is the willingness to see God at work in others as well as in ourselves. And finally, faith is the certainty that God is working through others just as certainly as God is working through us for the good of all people.”
With this kind of faith as the foundation of our lives, perhaps we can begin to see the world and our lives differently. With this kind of faith as our foundation, we as God’s people throughout the world can join together and sing, “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia for all that is!”
Blessings and Peace,
Ben Alford
Monday, September 13, 2010
Reflections on September 11, 2001
All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees’ and scribes were grumbling and said, this fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them. (Luke 15:1-10) The fact is that one of the most important things Jesus ever did was eat with people, all kinds of people: Tax Collectors and prostitutes, Scribes and Pharisees, Jews and Gentiles, women and Samaritans. And he did his best to help them learn to appreciate and even understand those who were different from themselves.
As I reflected on this Gospel last week it led me to reflect and pray about the events of September 11, 2001. As I reflected, I ran across a wonderful article by Jim Wallis, the Publisher of Sojourners Magazine. I would like to share some of his reflections with you.
“It was and is with pain and sadness that we remember the ninth anniversary of the day the towers fell, the Pentagon was attacked, and another plane full of passengers crashed into field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after brave citizens stopped the terrorists form hitting their target.
For nine years the anguish of lost loved ones and the feeling of vulnerability we all felt as terrible acts of violence were perpetrated on our soil have stuck with us all. But it is also appropriate to ask, what have we learned? How have we grown as a country? How have we healed, or how have we, in our hurt, turned around and hurt others?
These are not either/or questions. We have, in fact, done both: healed and wounded, learned & regressed, grown & shrunk back from the challenges before us. The challenges before us today lie in our ability to move forward in healing and building the cause of peace while remembering the lessons learned and lives lost.
Jesus calls his followers to be peacemakers, and to love not only their neighbors, but also their enemies. We Christians should not judge all Muslims by the actions of a small group of terrorists--and I hope somebody tells Muslims around the world not to judge Christians, or all Americans, by the actions of a few.
This weekend I have thought & prayed about the role that faith wll play in America. It is about whether or not we will accept Americans of all faiths as real Americans or see some as second-class citizens. It is about whether or not this country will embrace all those citizens of the world who seek peace and want to help rebuild and strengthen our nation and the world.”
In closing, I want to leave you with two prayers, one from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer, the other written especially for this very important occasion in the life of our nation.
First, a prayer for those who Influence Public Opinion: Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, p.827)
A finally a special prayer written for the Commemoration of September 11, 2001: God the compassionate one, whose loving care extends to all the world. We remember this day your children of many nations and many faiths whose lives were cut short by the fierce flames of anger and hatred. Console those who continue to suffer and grieve, and give them comfort and hope as they look to the future. Out of what we have endured, give us the grace to examine our relationships with those who perceive us as the enemy, and show our leaders the way to use our power to serve the God of all for the healing of the nations. This we ask thru Jesus Christ our Lord who, in reconciling love, was lifted up from the earth that he might draw all people to himself. Amen.
Blessings and Peace,
Ben Alford
As I reflected on this Gospel last week it led me to reflect and pray about the events of September 11, 2001. As I reflected, I ran across a wonderful article by Jim Wallis, the Publisher of Sojourners Magazine. I would like to share some of his reflections with you.
“It was and is with pain and sadness that we remember the ninth anniversary of the day the towers fell, the Pentagon was attacked, and another plane full of passengers crashed into field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after brave citizens stopped the terrorists form hitting their target.
For nine years the anguish of lost loved ones and the feeling of vulnerability we all felt as terrible acts of violence were perpetrated on our soil have stuck with us all. But it is also appropriate to ask, what have we learned? How have we grown as a country? How have we healed, or how have we, in our hurt, turned around and hurt others?
These are not either/or questions. We have, in fact, done both: healed and wounded, learned & regressed, grown & shrunk back from the challenges before us. The challenges before us today lie in our ability to move forward in healing and building the cause of peace while remembering the lessons learned and lives lost.
Jesus calls his followers to be peacemakers, and to love not only their neighbors, but also their enemies. We Christians should not judge all Muslims by the actions of a small group of terrorists--and I hope somebody tells Muslims around the world not to judge Christians, or all Americans, by the actions of a few.
This weekend I have thought & prayed about the role that faith wll play in America. It is about whether or not we will accept Americans of all faiths as real Americans or see some as second-class citizens. It is about whether or not this country will embrace all those citizens of the world who seek peace and want to help rebuild and strengthen our nation and the world.”
In closing, I want to leave you with two prayers, one from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer, the other written especially for this very important occasion in the life of our nation.
First, a prayer for those who Influence Public Opinion: Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, p.827)
A finally a special prayer written for the Commemoration of September 11, 2001: God the compassionate one, whose loving care extends to all the world. We remember this day your children of many nations and many faiths whose lives were cut short by the fierce flames of anger and hatred. Console those who continue to suffer and grieve, and give them comfort and hope as they look to the future. Out of what we have endured, give us the grace to examine our relationships with those who perceive us as the enemy, and show our leaders the way to use our power to serve the God of all for the healing of the nations. This we ask thru Jesus Christ our Lord who, in reconciling love, was lifted up from the earth that he might draw all people to himself. Amen.
Blessings and Peace,
Ben Alford
Monday, August 30, 2010
For the Beauty of the Earth
Strength for the Journey
September 1, 2010
“For the Beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”
This past weekend, a friend, formerly of Wetumpka and now living in Ohio, spent the weekend with Lynn and me. We spent most of our time outdoors in the beauty of Alabama and Elmore County. As I reflected on the weekend and on our time outdoors Alabama, the words of this hymn came to mind. The words to the hymn were written toward the end of the 19th Century by Folliot Sandford Pierpoint, and I believe describe outdoors Alabama very well.
On Friday, our friend, Chris, and I kayaked the Coosa River. We saw only six other people, the breeze was gentle and the hardwoods along the bank were beginning to change colors. Chris and I spoke only a dozen sentences or so the whole day, so absorbed were we in the breeze and light, the water and trees around us. On Sunday afternoon after church and lunch with friends, the three of us sat on our dock on Lake Jordan reading books, chatting (in person, not on a phone) and floating in the lake. Again, the beauty was not just visual, but required all of our senses to take it in.
There is so much beauty in our lives that can remind us of God’s love for us—“for the love which from our birth over and around us lies”—but we are often so busy or stressed to see, feel, hear or taste it. It is often only when friends (one of God’s other gifts to us) come that we slow down long enough to experience this beauty. After my experience this past weekend, I want to encourage, even challenge, you to join me in experiencing the beauty around us and to invite others to share with us in enjoying this beauty. Like God’s love, the beauty is always here, and like God’s love, we sometimes miss it.
I will let the writer of our hymn sum up my feelings on this subject with the third and fourth verses of “For the Beauty of the Earth.”
For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight,
Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above for all gentle thoughts and mild
Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise
Blessings,
The Rev. Ben Alford
Trinity Episcopal Church
September 1, 2010
“For the Beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”
This past weekend, a friend, formerly of Wetumpka and now living in Ohio, spent the weekend with Lynn and me. We spent most of our time outdoors in the beauty of Alabama and Elmore County. As I reflected on the weekend and on our time outdoors Alabama, the words of this hymn came to mind. The words to the hymn were written toward the end of the 19th Century by Folliot Sandford Pierpoint, and I believe describe outdoors Alabama very well.
On Friday, our friend, Chris, and I kayaked the Coosa River. We saw only six other people, the breeze was gentle and the hardwoods along the bank were beginning to change colors. Chris and I spoke only a dozen sentences or so the whole day, so absorbed were we in the breeze and light, the water and trees around us. On Sunday afternoon after church and lunch with friends, the three of us sat on our dock on Lake Jordan reading books, chatting (in person, not on a phone) and floating in the lake. Again, the beauty was not just visual, but required all of our senses to take it in.
There is so much beauty in our lives that can remind us of God’s love for us—“for the love which from our birth over and around us lies”—but we are often so busy or stressed to see, feel, hear or taste it. It is often only when friends (one of God’s other gifts to us) come that we slow down long enough to experience this beauty. After my experience this past weekend, I want to encourage, even challenge, you to join me in experiencing the beauty around us and to invite others to share with us in enjoying this beauty. Like God’s love, the beauty is always here, and like God’s love, we sometimes miss it.
I will let the writer of our hymn sum up my feelings on this subject with the third and fourth verses of “For the Beauty of the Earth.”
For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight,
Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above for all gentle thoughts and mild
Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise
Blessings,
The Rev. Ben Alford
Trinity Episcopal Church
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
"Old Friends, Sharing a Park Bench Like Book Ends"
In the 1960's Simon and Garfunkle sang a wonderful song about the meaning of life and friendship. At one point in the song, they sang, "I can imagine us years from today, sharing a park bench quietly. How terribly stange to be seventy." While not seventy, quiet yet, I had one of those "old friends" experiences this past weekend. In fact, it is still going on. As I sit writing, I am in Vancouver, British Columbia on the edge of the Fraser River. Lynn and I spent the end of last week in a beautiful town in the interior of BC by the name of Salmon Arm. The occasion was the eighteenth annula Salmon Arms Roots and Blues Music Fesitval. The purpose was good music, cool weather and "old (and new) friends.
The friends were from Alabama, New Orleans, Austin, Texas and Seattle Washington and Salmon Arm. The music was from all over the world: fifty bands, six stages, nine hundred volunteers, ten thousand festival goers and some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen in my life. The musicians were from Canada, the USA, South Africa, England, Cuba, Somalia, Australia, Israel/Ghana Bermuda and Ughanda. The music was the "grassroots" music that grows out of the lives of people and nations, expressing who they are and what is important to them. One of the thrills of the festival was to see the number of really young, twenty-something musicians from all over the world who gave me hope not only for the music of the future but for the world of the future as well.
Our headquarters for the weekend was the home of cousins of one of our traveling companions. We met these friends in Mexico in 2003 when we were in Mexico studying Spanish and have travelled with them since to enjoy good music, our beautiful country and world and to make more new friends.
Last night a new member joined our group as others left it heading back home. The new member was one of my former students from St. Pauls' Episcopal Shcool in New Orleans. I taught her from 1989 until 1991. As the world has continued to shrink, I found her on facebook and got reacquainted. Today she will be our "tour guide" around the city of Vancouver. Last night she gave me instructions on how to use the Skytrain and which kind of ticket to buy so that we will have all day access.
When I think of the gifts God has given us, some of the most important ones that come to mind are good friends (old and new), beautiful and meaningful music, and the beauty of creation. As The Rev. Mark Waldo, Sr. who preached Sunday at Trinity in my absence wrote to me early this morning on email: "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, I can see his hand of beauty and his grace. I can feel the touch of angels wings, I see glory in his face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place." "This place would be the whole world, the people would be all of God's people throughout the world, both the friends we know and the friends we havn't met yet.
Blessings to all of you from our Northern Neighbor, Canada. I am excited to see all of you next week.
Ben Alford
The friends were from Alabama, New Orleans, Austin, Texas and Seattle Washington and Salmon Arm. The music was from all over the world: fifty bands, six stages, nine hundred volunteers, ten thousand festival goers and some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen in my life. The musicians were from Canada, the USA, South Africa, England, Cuba, Somalia, Australia, Israel/Ghana Bermuda and Ughanda. The music was the "grassroots" music that grows out of the lives of people and nations, expressing who they are and what is important to them. One of the thrills of the festival was to see the number of really young, twenty-something musicians from all over the world who gave me hope not only for the music of the future but for the world of the future as well.
Our headquarters for the weekend was the home of cousins of one of our traveling companions. We met these friends in Mexico in 2003 when we were in Mexico studying Spanish and have travelled with them since to enjoy good music, our beautiful country and world and to make more new friends.
Last night a new member joined our group as others left it heading back home. The new member was one of my former students from St. Pauls' Episcopal Shcool in New Orleans. I taught her from 1989 until 1991. As the world has continued to shrink, I found her on facebook and got reacquainted. Today she will be our "tour guide" around the city of Vancouver. Last night she gave me instructions on how to use the Skytrain and which kind of ticket to buy so that we will have all day access.
When I think of the gifts God has given us, some of the most important ones that come to mind are good friends (old and new), beautiful and meaningful music, and the beauty of creation. As The Rev. Mark Waldo, Sr. who preached Sunday at Trinity in my absence wrote to me early this morning on email: "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, I can see his hand of beauty and his grace. I can feel the touch of angels wings, I see glory in his face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place." "This place would be the whole world, the people would be all of God's people throughout the world, both the friends we know and the friends we havn't met yet.
Blessings to all of you from our Northern Neighbor, Canada. I am excited to see all of you next week.
Ben Alford
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