2023.11.19 An Annoyingly True Balance, Lyn G. Brakeman, Spiritual Lemons, blog post

The gospel story in Matthew 25 about what to do with gifts of money is quite clear if harsh.  You invest it and it multiplies. You hoard it or hide it away, it stays safe yet benefits no one, not even yourself.  Whichever way you chose there are consequences. That’s the idea! AND, if you invest and thereby multiply your wealth the “Master” is very pleased with you.  

The idea behind this harsh little story is obvious and not obvious. If you think of real money you’ll be frustrated and seek everything from stock market advice, much of it flawed. If you think of “money” as loving kindness you will fare much better.  

In what do you invest your heart?  Because where your heart is there also will be your money or other gifts. Simply so.

*  *  *  *

Today is my youngest son’s birthday #53. I am grateful for his life, his one precious life he almost lost to ulcerative colitis when he was a young man. He had invested his time and energy in making a living, being successful, doing a job well. He was young and did not heed his bodily symptoms carefully enough. He suffered a brush with death. He survived this brush with death thanks to excellent surgical care, the love of his family, countless prayers, and a brush with what I can only call The Light of Christ, offering him a choice—not a sentence, a choice.  He chose to live.  

When you heed the Great Commandment, basically true in all religions, to love your neighbor as yourself do not forget yourself! 

 

2023.11.12 Light Stretches, Lyn G. Brakeman, Spiritual Lemons, blog post, 11/12/23

BEHOLD the American Purple Gallinule of Florida Everglades Park! This crazy lady stretches and reaches everywhere at once. Can we?  

I know that the parable of the “bridesmaids” and their “lamps” is to be an analogy for the arrival of the Heavenly Kingdom to earth, ushered in by the light carried by these girls. Some girls were ready and some were in disarray. It’s a lesson in preparedness. 

First, in the ancient world there were NO oil lamps. Also there were NO “bridesmaids,” and NO messianic “bridegroom” ever arrived to “save” the cosmos in chaos, governed by WARS, VIOLENCE, CONQUEST, AND SUBMISSION. 

Why do we pray, “Thy Kingdom Come”—over and over?  Our kingdom has not come! Neither has God’s—by the looks of it. 

The left-behind girls in this biblical parable were not prepared. There is some advice about readiness and preparedness in this story, yet who is ever “ready” for Divinity? And the God of all faith never leaves anyone behind! Not even a Gallinule!  

So let’s rethink our ways a bit. Most of us want a peaceful world. We all in our hearts want Love—of God, self and neighbor—to work, to enliven and enlighten. Everyone has slightly different recipes, rules, but how REALLY do we make a kingdom a “kindom”?

One way is for each of us to stop (all the running around), sit down (rest) and shut up (create silence).This is one way to acknowledge there is a larger, deeper Presence available to us all and in our midst.

Now begin to engage in conversations, especially with those with whom you disagree politically or religiously. Listen to yourself and to these others closely. Do this more and more. I know a story, told by a Christian thinker, Brian McLaren, of four young women friends with radically different religions, points of view, ethnicities, class, and political persuasions. They were, like the girls in the parable, each trying to figure out the best way to remain friends and bear light and peace into their war-torn world. They had to STRETCH—each and all.

"These four women did something too rare: they sat with their complexity, shared, and heard honest and vulnerable feelings. They listened across difference to express their own humanity and affirm the humanity of one another." 

Light stretches, right? 

2023.11.05 How Bold Is Bold? Lyn G. Brakeman, Spiritual Lemons, blog post

Children often color outside the lines on impulse, when they feel inspired. Often the “fancy” spiritual word for such impulses is “call.” We feel “called” to do something different, out of line—bold.  Is it disobedience? Maybe. Is it insanity? Some say so. 

Many teachers correct such impulses. Why? Because I suppose they think that there is a right way, a neat and orderly way, a best way, or simply the way they want kids to do it, or the way they themselves have been told to do it.   

I suppose this is why many religious authorities and teachers of Jesus’s day thought he was way out of line, opening access to Divinity up to everyone under the sun and then some. And on top of that Jesus called for obedience to this way. Obedience is not just mechanical saluting like wind-up soldiers. The word itself comes from Latin ob (in the direction of)  + audire (hear). It is heart-listening. 

Do you know someone who is deaf? If so, you often can watch them speak rapidly with their fingers in sign language. When there is someone up front signing for (speaking to)  deaf people, I watch them with my eyes as I listen with my ears. I discover I need both. 

I don’t know sign language, but I do know that the signer often will place her hand on her chest, then up towards the sky, then back to her lips, then in a circular motion. The gestures tell me that my heart is connected to heaven above, then to my own lips, straight back down, and all around to everyone else, including me. The Great Commandment! 

I cannot tell you why I weep, simply that I do.  

2023.10.29 It's In The Mail! Lyn G. Brakeman, Spiritual Lemons, blog post

The whole idea of there being a divine kingdom, or of God being a King, has always made me restless, full of discomfort about throning divinity in any one place anywhere. 

It feels distancing to me, the same way Santa Claus felt to me as a young child. Why did they seat him on a big chair, like a throne, in the middle of a crowded department store, playing Christmas music at high speed in the background, and telling us little kids we should sit on Santa’s lap and we might, or would, get all the stuff we wanted for Christmas? I hung back.

Even now, I call the “kingdom” of God the reign of God. This keeps God’s godliness  mobile and accessible. In fact, the more I allow my mind to detach itself from the omni-ness of divinity, the more potent, powerful, present, wise, and truly loving this one God becomes.  

All it takes to know this expansiveness of divine love is a true story, full of heartache, heartbreak, and hope—everywhere for everyone, and told over and over.  

*  *  *  * 

A four-year old girl wrote a letter to God about her beloved dog Abby who had just died.  She wanted to make sure God would recognize Abby when she got to heaven. With help from her mother, Meredith wrote the letter and inserted a picture of herself with Abby.

Dear God, Will you take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I’m happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. Love, Meredith. 

Before long a package arrived for Meredith. It was wrapped in gold paper. The original letter that had been opened was taped to the package which contained a book by Mr. Rogers called When a Pet Dies. There was also the photo and another letter. 

Dear Meredith, Abby arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away. Abby isn’t sick any more. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abby loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I’m sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abby by. 

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. 

By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love.    Love, God 

2023.10.22 $ $ $ ? Lyn G. Brakeman, Spiritual Lemons, blog post

Our world right now is in such social upheaval that many of us have no idea who is in charge, who will save us, how we will carry on, whether to laugh or cry. 

We desperately grope for some external power to tell us what to do, how to be. We listen addictively to the NEWS. Isn’t the President going to tell us what to do? We curl up with some wise book, become blind to its words smudged up and blurred on a page. We call or text or email a friend or family, get no answer. We go shopping, because money has power to save. Some even say it “talks.” 

Jesus, the New Testament Christian hero, talked a lot about money. He wasn’t against it. He knew it was necessary to pay taxes. In fact, he told people to respect Caesar’s coinage, identified by the emperor’ s own image on its face (just like President George Washington’s face on our quarter). But this is not the coinage of God. I have heard, even preached myself, many a pious sermon about the value of paying your “taxes”—in other words pledge your money to the parish church. Money buys respect, authority, a place in the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s a deal, right?

NO.

At times like ours right now, power and violence are tightly conjoined, and when you add money to the list you create a conflagration—a large hellish fire, a vicious trinity.

*  *  *  *

Jesus recommended paying “taxes” to God. He meant to pray, laying bare your own heart, fears, your desires, your hopes, and your powerlessness. 

You can pray even if you don't believe in a god or anyone else's God/G-d/Godde/HigherPower. When you "pray" you enter the depths of your own soul, therein accessing your own compassion—the heart of love for the world beyond your reach. This you give?

YES.

2023.10.15 The Guest List? Lyn G. Brakeman, Spiritual Lemons, blog post

Have you ever made out a guest list for a big important and personal event? Something important like your own wedding? Now, imagine if you just bagged the list, flung wide the doors and invited everyone—absolutely everyone.                                                                                                                                      

The parable of the wedding feast was told by Jesus in answer to those who asked: what  is this kindom of heaven like?  Kindom sounds silly, right?  Where is THE KING?  What ruler would throw a huge banquet to honor the family heir, send invitations to those on the guest list, then be astonished when the entire guest list declines—  too busy with their own enterprises, and some even murdering the ruler’s emissaries?

This ruler became furious, ordered his military to burn the murderers and destroy towns and businesses, then went out to invite everyone and anyone, good and bad, credentialed and not, to the feast. The new guests all ran on it and celebrated mightily. Well, except for one poor soul who had no proper wedding garments so was kicked out by rough bouncers and removed from that guest list forever. 

*  *  *  *

When I read this story, I felt my mood soar and plummet immediately. Of course it’s only a metaphor, but . . . a godly guest list? 

THE DIVINE REALM SHOULD BE TRULY INVITATIONAL WITHOUT COST, YES?

*  *  *  * 

Once I was ordained and serving in a parish I started a gospel drama group. Acting out stories would be fun and educational I thought. Better than a one-preacher sermon from a solo pulpit. I invited anyone interested to join. We gathered. I suggested that we try an impromptu and improvisational version of Jesus’s ancient wedding feast parable. We used the altar area as our stage. I read the story, and told them to begin the drama. Everyone started to talk at once. Some thought they didn’t deserve to be invited. Others claimed they had been invited because they were best friends of the family. Still others hung back uncertain. One woman, trying to play Jesus’s mother, Mary, shouted: “Son, this isn’t working!”  We all suddenly burst out laughing and crying at once. We had created chaos. 

*  *  *  *

This drama group certainly was a failed idea, I thought. Right? 

THIS IS THE REIGN OF HEAVEN-ON-EARTH. IT’S OPEN TO ALL, RIGHT? 

*  *  *  *

Why in the world would God with whom I’d had lively one-sided conversations since I was a small child  kick me out, kick anyone out? If this God is CREATOR, then that word itself automatically means to do something new, to challenge traditional ways, to respect the vast array of offerings and opportunities and not insist on or rigidify just one single way.

*  *  *  *

My drama group kept going. We sized down by choice not by rejection. I acted as a director, figuring that a great orchestra needs its conductor to make good music together. We read biblical stories and shared thoughts and feelings not “answers.” By Easter we were ready for the Vigil. A group of six or seven women came into a darkened church in single file and solemn. They slowly walked up into the altar area, which became, well, an empty tomb. One shroud-like blanket was lying on the floor. The group gathered in silence. Some knelt, some stood, some close, some with a bit of distance. Very slowly the women began each to say something as slowly the lights were coming up—dawn. There was no script. One woman who did not believe in God, stayed silent except quietly to say something like, I just don’t get it? When the lights were fully on, the drama finished and the women all walked slowly away from the empty tomb and out of the church using the side entrance. The watching congregation stayed silent. One woman snuck back into the church, snatched the “shroud” and left again. As she was leaving she turned back three time to say, “But what does it mean?”

2023.10.08 STOP! Lyn G. Brakeman, Spiritual Lemons, blog post

"Everywhere we look we see violence, in our homes, on our streets, in our schools. We see it in advertising, in films, on the news. We see it in strife within companies, communities and nations, and between them. We find it expressed physically, sexually, emotionally and psychologically. It is everywhere and we feel powerless in the face of it.

Let's just stop it. Let the writers, producers, editors and actors who portray violence stop. Let the media stop presenting stories on violence. Let parents and teachers, brothers and sisters, men and women and children stop. Let the political, social economic, judicial and religious institutions stop. 

Let us all spend time in silence, stillness, meditation and prayer each day, drawing on the spirit within us to lead us into kindness, openness of heart, goodness, well-being and goodwill."  from Sister Stan, "Gardening the Soul", 2001.

AND TWENTY-TWO YEARS LATER WHAT DO WE STILL SEE, HEAR AND WITNESS ALL THE TIME?     LET'S JUST STOP!  (This is hard for news reporters and media, but does it always have to make the front page?  NO.

*  *  * *

Just a few small things to help us all stop and consider:

-The government collapses when the governed refuse to cease hostilities.

-Attend to small gestures alongside huge unmanageable items. 

-STOP!: 

Do, see, say, live, love in different ways. Breathe don’t pant.

Make the sign of the cross western style (up, down, right, left).

Make the sign of the cross eastern style (up, down left, right).

See yourself as a child at play enchanted, creating with, say, Lincoln Logs.

Be a priest. Consecrate/bless bread and wine using ancient Hebrew words.

Watch grass push slowly up through tiny cracks in cement sidewalks.

Spell divinity God, Godde, G-d, godde—same sound different variations.

Use words of immanence alongside, or instead of, words of transcendence.

Avoid gendered (he, him, his) or role-bound (Father) words for Divinity. 

Because everything is scientific, doesn’t mean everything is not spiritual. 

All life—human, plant, animal—is both vulnerable and venerable. G-d bless you and keep you. The face of Godde shine upon you and from within you today and always. AMEN.