Category Archives: God’s Infinite Love

A Personal Meditation on Seeing and Hearing Jesus

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In my last post, I discussed how people of different beliefs can and do work well together on common efforts to attain sobriety and to make peace. I discussed how we can respect each other’s diverse perspectives on our “Higher Power,” and how we can respectfully support each person’s needed spiritual awakening. In response to these thoughts, some Christians questioned my beliefs: Am I Christ-centered enough? Am I a true Christian?

Today, I am sharing a meditation that I wrote to help me on my needed and ongoing spiritual journey. The meditation is based on the Gospel and is based on our common humanity, particularly our gift of love.

The meditation has 10 parts. I like to savor one or two of these parts at a time to help me start my day. I hope you enjoy the meditation, and of course feel free to share with others.

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Today I see and hear
Our Father and our Mother
Our fountain of Mercy and Justice
Gifting Humanity
Through wondrous plants, animals, water, lands, air, and sky
Gifting Humanity
In all places, through all cultures and people, and throughout all times
Gifting Humanity
With wondrous helpers, teachers, humorists, and truthsayers
Gifting Humanity
With wondrous artists, dreamers, thinkers, and story-tellers
Gifting Humanity
With wondrous healers, reconcilers, peacemakers, and prophets
Gifting Humanity
With wondrous children, family, friends, needy ones, and wanderers
Gifting Humanity
With each person

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Let your light shine!
Today I see and hear
Our Mother and Father
Our fountain of Compassion and Strength
Gifting Humanity
With Jesus
A helper, player, and worker
A learner, teacher, and encourager
A healer, forgiver, and peacemaker
Jesus our Brother who lives for us all
Jesus our Revolutionary who dies for us all
Jesus our Savior who has been raised for us all
Jesus the Child of all Humanity

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

I hear Jesus celebrating people’s goodness
Blessed are you who are poor
Blessed are you who hunger
Blessed are you who mourn
Blessed are you who are merciful
Blessed are you who make peace
Blessed are you who are hated, reviled, and persecuted
You are the salt of the Earth
You are the light of the world
Let your light shine

I see Jesus respecting people
A patient friend
Listening
Playing along
Trusting
Sharing heavy burdens
Accepting people as they are
Welcoming all
Blessing all

I see Jesus turning life around
For the outcasts, the dirty, the disorderly, and the mischief-makers
For the strangers, the lepers, the weird, the addicted ones, and the prostitutes
For the humbled, the abused, the searchers, the conservers, and the broken hearted
For the sick, the hurt, the young, the old, and the dying
For those who have crashed and
For those who have fallen through the cracks
I see Jesus revealing each person’s hope
Supporting and encouraging each person’s joy
I see Jesus
As Child of God
Calling each of us
Even me
As Child of God
Into one Family

Not judging, not condemning, not holding back
I see Jesus showing up and standing up for others
I hear Jesus upholding me
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
And wherever you go
Celebrate, respect, and welcome

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

I see Jesus sharing compassion, wisdom, and encouragement
I hear Jesus building upon humanity’s gifts and
Teaching the Way based on love
As you wish others would do for you
Do so for others
Do not insult or hurt another
If someone strikes you on one cheek
Offer your other cheek as well
Do not return evil for evil
Do not fight or ridicule
Do not even pray
Until you go and seek reconciliation
Be merciful as your Abba is merciful
Love like Abba loves
Generously give to the just and unjust
Love whether people love you in return or not
Love expecting nothing in return
Put away your swords
For those who live by the sword die by the sword
Trust in Abba
Love your enemies

I hear Jesus sharing Abba’s love and
The wonders of nature
Think of the birds
They neither sow nor reap
They have neither storehouses nor barns
Yet Abba feeds them
Think of the lilies
Think of how they grow
They neither toil nor spin
Yet Abba clothes them
More beautifully than royalty
Abba knows your needs
Fear not
Trust
It’s Abba’s joy to give you the Kingdom

I hear Jesus trusting us with stories
Stories of mustard seeds, making bread, hidden treasures, and businesspersons
Stories of fishing nets, lost sheep, banquets, and Good Samaritans
Stories of merciful lenders, weeds and crops, wayward children, and persistent widows
Stories of humble and poor folks, sheep and goats, harvests, and weddings

I see Jesus meeting us where we’re at
Inviting us along our path of renewal
Come to me
All you who are weary
And heavily burdened
And I will give you rest
For I am gentle and lowly of heart
And my work and my burdens
are easy and light
Live in me and I in you
Abba, like a Good Samaritan
Loves and cares for you
Go and do likewise

I feel Jesus stirring me up
I hear Jesus
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
And wherever you go
Share love, understanding, and joy

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

I hear Jesus engaging us
Be good and trustworthy servants
Give food to the hungry
Give clothes to those in need
Visit the imprisoned
Welcome and celebrate strangers
Live and work
So that everyone
Neighbors near and far
Can have and share a good life

I hear Jesus engaging us
Be good and trustworthy family members
Give each one the nourishment to grow
Give each one the love they need
Comfort the sorrowful
Welcome and celebrate each new member
Live and work
So that everyone
Sisters and brothers near and far
Can have and share a good life

I see the goodness
Of light, water, land, air, and fire
Of Earth, moon, planets, sun, and stars
Of rain, food, sunshine, and seasons
Of plants, fungi, animals, and all living creatures
I see Jesus engaging us with the goodness of all things
Be good and trustworthy servants
Preserve nature
Restore all that has been despoiled and wasted
Protect the endangered
Welcome and celebrate all creation
Live and work
So that everyone
Creatures near and far
Can have and share a good life

In my life’s efforts
I see Jesus
Inviting me into an out-of-the-way wilderness
Leading me up a mountain
Stilling the storm within me
Opening me to life’s mysteries
Strengthening me for the journey ahead and
In each step accompanying me
Ask and it will be given to you
Seek and you will find
Knock and the door will be opened to you
Consider life’s mysteries deeply in your heart
Pray that Abba’s Yearning will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Give thanks
Give praise
Bless all
Be one

I see Jesus
A stranger, neighbor, spouse, sister, brother, and needy one
Ardently seeking to do Abba’s Yearning
On this Earth as it is done in Heaven
I hear Jesus engaging us
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
Love, love, love
Wherever you are
Wherever is home
And wherever you go

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

Humbled and coming to our senses
For what we have done and not done
We see Jesus
Coming in mercy and compassion
Coming to set us free from all our undoings
We too come to Jesus

I hear Jesus
Rise from your failings
I love you
I know you love me too
Your sins are forgiven
Leave them behind
Forgive yourself
Be happy
Let us put a ring on your finger
And celebrate our togetherness
You are forgiven
Go in peace
Share the joy of your restoration
And live free of sin

Likewise forgive
Whoever has wronged you
Seventy times seventy
Again and again
Forgive, forgive, forgive
Always renewing the Earth with love

I see Jesus our Liberator
I hear Jesus
Peace be with you
As Abba has sent me
I send you
Receive the Holy Spirit
Whenever you forgive anyone
They are forgiven
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
As I have forgiven you
Set others completely free of their sins
Forgive and be forgiven
Wherever you go

I wade into the river of forgiveness
Forgiving others
And I find that I am being forgiven too

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

Jesus comes to heal
I hear Jesus
What do you want?
Trust In Abba
Let me see your sickness, your infirmity, your possession
Feel my hands upon you
My hands upon your needs
Trust
Love
Rise and be healed
Go your way and live afresh
Your faith has made you well
Your faith has saved you

I see Jesus with the sick, suffering, and healed
I hear Jesus
In the same way
With me
Guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit
Heal sickness, infirmities, and possessions
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
Being healed and healing wherever you go

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Come with me serving and caring
I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring

I hear Jesus call us to renew the Earth
With all our talents
And with all our efforts
With love and justice
Without harm to anyone
To fulfill our duties
Doing what is needed
To Sustain and give life
For all creation and for all people
To take charge and transform our world
So that our world will benefit all
I have come to set the world on fire
And how I wish it were already blazing

Let us rid and purify our lives
Of all callousness and injustice
Of all exploitation and corruption
Get these things out of here
Stop turning my Father’s house
Into a marketplace and
Into a den of thieves
As the Scriptures proclaim
My house shall be a house of prayer
For all peoples
Throughout the Earth
Just as it is in Heaven

I see and hear Jesus
Let your light shine
Stir up the people
Carry our revolution
Rise up for all humanity
And wherever you go
Renew the Earth with the fire of your love

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Today I see Jesus
I ask Jesus
When, Jesus, when?
When will we be healed?
When will we be victorious?
Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground
And dies
It remains just a grain of wheat
But if it dies
It produces much fruit
Here’s the way to find the life that you seek
Deny yourself
Lose your life
Take up your cross
Bear another’s burden
And follow me
Serving and caring

Jesus keeps speaking
And I keep listening
To find life
Pass through the narrow gate
Bring others with you too
Distribute your possessions for the needy
Keep only what you need
Speak simply and truly
Do not judge
Do not compare
Do not focus on the speck in your neighbor’s eye
When you do not see the log in your own eye
Do not parade your alms, deeds, or prayers
But in secret without credit to yourself
Do not let one hand know
The good that your other hand is doing
Seek first the Kingdom
Doing whatever is needed
Washing another’s feet with your tears
Standing by another’s cross
Taking the least important place
Being like this child in my arms

I see the child
The child is held by Jesus
Hugged
I hear Jesus
Be gentle and humble
Be cheerful and grateful
Enter into life’s deep waters
Be born afresh
Everyone who loves is born of God
Be born of the Spirit
Becoming a Child of God
For God is Love
Experience all that Abba, your Father, wants for you
Be led by the Spirit
Let the wind blow where it will

We are becoming the child in Jesus’ arms
I am resting in Jesus’ arms
We hear Jesus
Come with me
I have chosen you
Dear brothers and sisters
I have appointed you
To go forth and bear lasting and life-giving fruit
Ask Abba with me for whatever is serviceable
And receive it in love
Remember always that
Abba sends and gives the Counselor, the Spirit
To all those who ask

I follow Jesus and live with Jesus
Serving and caring
I die
I am born
I am raised
My time has come
I am alive
The Child of all Humanity lives in me
I see Jesus
I hear Jesus
Let your light shine
Rise up and carry our revolution
And wherever you go
Bring childlike grace, good news, and life

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Today I see and hear Jesus
Jesus is preparing us for his journey to Abba
Come with me
Even in this difficult time
Let’s celebrate and give thanks
Let’s wash each other’s feet
Let’s break bread together
Let’s pray together
Let’s stay awake together

I see Jesus deeply troubled
I hear Jesus
Abba loves the world so much
But this world is full of hurt and hate
Do not be of this world
The time is coming
When you will weep
And the world will rejoice
When those who kill you
Believe that they are doing God a service
But do not let sorrow fill your hearts
Forgive them
They do not understand what they are doing

We wash feet and break bread together
We hear Jesus pray
Abba may all these your children be one
Just as you and I are one
And through their love for one another
May many others find and experience your love

I see Jesus’ life offered
Placed before me
I hear Jesus
Love one another
As I have loved you
I lay down my life for you
You are my friends
Live in my love
That your joy and your life will be complete

In all this
I am greatly troubled too
I try to stay awake and hopeful
But I find great difficulties in doing this
Still I hear Jesus
I am not leaving you deserted
The Counselor, the Spirit, will come to you
And will always be with you
Rely on our Counselor
Guiding you
And anointing you with all virtue
Keep coming together and I too will be with you
Keep showing up for others and I too will show up for you
Keep standing for all and I too will stand for you
Keep upholding one another and I too will uphold you
Keep awake and I too will be awake at your side
You will fail sometimes
But do not fear
Be bold and courageous
Our present sorrows will turn
To joy
To forgiveness
To healing
And to thanksgiving
My peace I give to you

My hopes are growing stronger
I hear Jesus
Keep letting your light shine
Keep rising up
And keep carrying our revolution
Wherever you go
Yes, Jesus, I am joining your journey
I am dying to myself
I am becoming a friend of all
I am becoming family for all
I am becoming in you a living member
Of the Child of all Humanity
Our renewed Humanity whose members are
Striving always to love as you and Abba love
This Humanity being renewed and coming on the clouds of Heaven
To renew the Earth

Peace be with you
As Abba has sent me
I send you
Serve
Care
Be a friend
Share wisdom
Forgive
Heal
Work
Renew
Be a child
Be a light
Uphold others
Love
And Smile
I see and hear
The Heavens are glad
The Earth rejoices
The deserts blossom
The seas roar
The forests and the hills dance
All that has life shouts with joy
Thank you Abba
Thank you Jesus
Thank you all who love

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Making the Leap to Peace

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Franz Jagerstatter

Franz Jagerstatter pictured on the cover of a book of his letters and writings from prison.

He was in many people’s eyes just an uneducated farmer. He had made mistakes in life, like all of us, and he had his faults. Many people, including his parish priest, bishop, and many close friends, thought he was crazy. His name was Franz.

Franz was born in 1907. He was a loving husband and a devoted father of four young daughters. He had been inspired by a dream in 1938. In his dream, he saw a marvelous train coming around a grand mountain to pick up a large group of people. For the people, young and old, the train was the latest craze, the rage of the moment. Almost everyone rushed to get on the train, but then Franz heard a voice, “This train is going to hell!”

Physically waking up, Franz understood the train to represent the Nazi Regime. Spiritually waking up, Franz then refused to fight with the German armed forces. Because of his refusal, Franz was arrested and later beheaded in 1943.

Today, just as in Franz’s Austria, we, like the Austrians, are being propagandized into wars. No doubt, there are grave evils to be addressed, but war, if it should ever come, should only come as a last resort.

It’s deadly wrong to leave the causes of conflict largely unaddressed, not seeking first to create peace through the establishment of justice, and then when people get caught up in the fight, decide to vanquish them through military might.

Yes, in this moment, all this applies to the United States, to my beloved country, to us. Obsessed with our own comforts and security, and blind to the needs and grievances of others, we have spent trillions of dollars on war efforts while investing relatively little time, effort, or money into justice-making or peacemaking. For this reason and others, our current war efforts are not wars of last resort; they are not just; and they are not of God.

I am not talking about our soldiers; they are good people, and most are sincerely seeking to serve our country and humanity.

I am talking about the current calls to war, deceptively scripted for our consumption. Our leaders, our media, and all those behind this are urging us further into war, further into perpetual conflict, and further into something worse. We may feel the lure of their war train calling out to us, “All aboard!” and yes, it may all look marvelous but “This train is going to …!”

Please listen deeply to this story.

While an innocent man was still urging his close friends to pray and resist temptation, an armed crowd, led by a another friend, arrived. Determined to arrest the innocent man, they grabbed him. Immediately, a close friend drew his sword, swung it, and cut off a man’s ear. But the innocent man said, “No more of this!” and he touched the man’s ear and healed him. The innocent man then said, “Put your sword back into its sheath! For those who live by the sword, die by the sword!” He was then bound and carried away.

Jesus healing Malchus' ear

Jesus healing Malchus’ ear. May we all reach out in love to heal each other.

This is the only time in the Gospels that a follower of Jesus caused someone grave physical harm. Jesus’ first response is clear and direct: “No more!” and “Put away your sword!” His subsequent, more reflective words speak of a death, which all who live by the sword experience. While physical death is not to be excluded from Jesus’ meaning, we know that not all who live by the sword, physically die by the sword. Here Jesus is speaking of a deeper death, a spiritual death that comes whenever we live by the sword. From this story’s perspective, by our own actions, we all share in this death, but this death can be remedied by the healing touch of the Messiah, the innocent man, who allowed himself to be bound, taken away, beaten, and killed for our benefit.

Postscript:

While the Catholic Church, which I love, sadly did not support Franz Jagerstatter well during his life, this church in 2007 did honor him as a martyr for his faith and now calls him “Blessed.” In the words of Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, “In a time like ours, the testimonial of Blessed Franz, his unbroken bravery, and his imperturbable strong conscience is a shining example.”

Prayer:

Learning from our past, let us pray that all of us from every faith and from every good spirit will not wait too long to recognize the path to peace, and that we will earnestly seek healing and justice for all, and do all that we can now to avoid war and work for peace. Let’s pray too that it’s not yet too late for each of us to join together and say, “No more!” and to leap off our train and leap into the loving arms of the Spirit for Peace.

Thanks all and thanks be to God!

Fellow Passengers Approaching a Shared Crash

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It’s been two years since I first posted about the crash (this link provides a detailed description my initial experience with this crash). Until now, I have just shared what happened on November 26 and 27, 1974. On that evening and night of November 26, I had been injured and had been in significant pain, but the central experience was solidarity. In those moments, I began to have visions of a disaster on a mountainside. Slowly, I began to understand that I was witnessing a plane crash. I was suffering with the people and our hearts were joined.

The next morning, November 27, 1974, I saw the note I had written to myself during the night (not that I needed reminding): “Is there a plane crash?” The 7:00 A.M. news was about to start and I fully expected to hear news of the plane crash. But there was no news. I continued to check the news each hour throughout the day. It wasn’t until 3:00 P.M. of that day that I heard something like the following on the radio:

There was a plane crash last night in Virginia. The plane had departed from Ohio and was en route to Washington, D.C. The plane was flying in dense fog and the pilot did not see the mountain in front of it. So the plane crashed into the mountain without warning. The reason this was not announced earlier is because the plane crashed into a site of a secret White House used in the event of a nuclear war.

The announcement above is not a quote; it’s just reflective of what I remember. Also I’m not sure the announcement said “last night” but I presumed “last night” because that was when I experienced the crash. Also I’m not sure if the announcement I heard said Virginia or West Virginia. Additionally, the announcement to the best of my recollection did not mention the departing airport location in Ohio but I felt that it was very local to me. At the time, I was in Worthington, Ohio, a town within Columbus, Ohio.

This Egyptian tomb painting is reminiscent of Pharaoh’s dream of seven fat cows followed by seven lean cows.

This Egyptian painting is reminiscent of Pharaoh’s dream of seven fat cows followed by seven lean cows. Joseph interpreted the cows as representing seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Much can be saved when we pay attention to such visions. – Painting from the tomb of Nefeteri, wife of Ramesses II, ca. 1250 BC, Thebes. Photo from Associates of Biblical Research.

When I heard this news, I felt a deep sense of completion and was very satisfied just knowing that I had been with the people in this crash, in their hour of need, when few others knew of their suffering. Because of this sense of completion, I did not at that time feel the need to follow up and learn more about this event.

Three years later, as a college senior, in the fall of 1977, I was inspired to vigorously research human suffering. The research was not for a class, and at the time I was not thinking about the crash at all. I was just driven to use my spare time to read and take notes on injustice, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, the Holocaust, prejudice and civil rights, oppression, human divisions everywhere, various wars, the threat of nuclear war and other human-made catastrophes, … I kept this up for weeks and weeks until one night, with pages upon pages of personal notes all around me, I got up from my study table and began to pace around the room. Then, like the evening of November 26, 1974, I felt that God was coming. I stopped walking, stood in front of my notes, and kind of cleared my thoughts in anticipation of what was coming. At that moment, a rush of commanding insights began to flow powerfully through me:

The plane … we’re all in it! The whole world’s in it, everybody, all of us! We’re flying blind. Much of the blinding fog is our fixation on our own security. Despite being in the same plane, we can’t see each other! The plane … shaped like a cross … is our cross! We think things are ok, but we’re heading straight toward our mountain of security! We don’t know it, we think things are basically ok, but we’re going to crash! All of us!

Sobering, mind-numbing insights for a 21 year-old like me at the time or for anyone at any time. Oh my, oh, oh, oh … my heart was beginning to get it, all the suffering of all those people I was researching, far-away people, people removed from me in one way or another, other people too who most of the time simply fell through the cracks of my consciousness … but now a new reality … all people … the “fortunate” and the “unfortunate” … suffering was not so far off … ALL OF US … FELLOW PASSENGERS … approaching a shared crash …

But the powerful insights were still coming, more encouraging, hopeful ones now, just as mind-blowing, just as hard to accept:

God will be with us when we crash! Suffering with us! Comforting and healing us! God’s Heart joining ours! Generous, loving revolutions of the heart! And on the third day, there will be victory for all, a renewed and whole human family, joyously giving thanks!

I was shocked at it all, but, oh wow, I was getting it, we can win together! All this again brought a deep sense of completion, and that experience marked the end of that research effort and I returned to “normal” college work.

As my life progressed over the years, I realized that this future crash is not our predetermined destiny, but it is our current flight path. This sight into our future, like the similar visions of others, akin to the prophesy of Jonah, are warnings of what will be if we do not soon wake up, open our eyes, understand what happening around us, and do what is needed so that we can make a safe landing.

Yes, fellow passengers, the lively efforts of all of us are needed! We don’t have to crash! Practical, generous, all-inclusive love is such a preferable option! Let’s change our course before it’s too late! Time is generous but time is short!

Post notes:

  • The crash is one of the most significant, revelatory events of my life. It is a core message that is part of who I am and what I need to do. It is also deeply remorseful and troubling. I still feel the pain but also the hope of those in that crash of 1974. Another event helps to balance this event in my life: the “key story” which centers on the love of God and the rebirth that is possible when we experience the love of God.
  • Not unlike Jesus’ disciples, I do not understand the meaning of the “third day,” but the third day from November 26, 1974 was Thanksgiving Day, and I am confident that on our third day (whatever that means) of this shared crash, there will be an incredible victory for the whole human family by God’s healing where we will rejoice together. For a small glimpse into this, see this post about a dream I had concerning this great awakening that can occur with or without the crash.
  • Today is the 38th anniversary of my hearing radio announcement concerning the plane crash. Such news reports on November 27, 1974 do not, however, seem to exist. I will discuss this and more in upcoming posts.

A Church of New Light

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I was one of the many speakers at the 123rd anniversary celebration of New Light Missionary Baptist Church. My 10-minute reflection was a small part of the two and a half hour service filled with wisdom, exhortation, prayers, worship, history, dance, and music. I prepared these thoughts after prayer and reflecting upon my family’s experience here in Deer Park, Alabama. My words below are taken from a hard-to-hear audio recording. My reflection followed Deacon A. C. Bivens’ reflection, “My Attitude,” a remarkable talk explaining his positive attitude toward life.

“I don’t know if I’m too good with the microphone.” Everyone laughs encouragingly. “I’ll just, I’ll try here” (try speaking by the front pews without a microphone). “And I don’t know how to honor everyone here,” and Pastor Taylor and others assure me that that’s alright, “but I want to honor some other people.”

“Today, we’re celebrating 123 years. In doing so, we honor all the people who have been part of this church: people who farmed, people who washed clothes, people who fought fires, people who endured storms. We honor all the parents, grandparents, children, aunts, and uncles, who sacrificed a lot and suffered, but who lived well by faith, who hoped in a wondrous future, and who built this caring, welcoming community.

The Promise of the Mountaintop

The promise of the mountaintop is shining for us! We’ve never been closer! – Photograph by Nancy Heise of Raspberry Island, Alaska in July 2009.

“Pastor Taylor talks about difficult times. We live in difficult times. He calls difficult times ‘these last and – ’”

Pastor Taylor and many others join in saying: “’evil days!’”

“In these struggling times, my family needed to move, and about a year ago I remember coming up here and stopping at this church and I stopped a few doors down and a kind man directed me to Earl Wood Road. Soon my family met friends there: Douglas Woods and Edward Jackson. Deer Park is a wondrous place. We were really surprised to come here at the all-around tremendous welcome, even the animals welcomed us: the birds, frogs, deer, even a coyote.

“And we found this church, New Light, a church rich in compassionate love – reaching out to all! A church that’s very like a Scripture that’s dear to me, Luke chapter 1, verse 78, ‘In the compassionate love of God, the new light,’ just like the church’s name, ‘the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on us who dwell in darkness and who live in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace!’”

As I’m continuing to say all this, there’s plenty else being proclaimed by everybody too: “Amen!” “Yes!” “That’s right!” “Alright!” “Yes, Lord!” … sighs of agreement and laughter too.

“Each Sunday the deacons come out and pray a lot of prayers that have touched my family: ‘Thank you, Father, for getting me up this morning!’ ‘Thank you, Father, for getting us ready for this day!’ ‘Thank you, Father, for the plan that you have for us this day!’

“God answers these prayers with love all through our services. We hear the answer to these prayers in our pastor’s words and in his laughter, in caring smiles all around, and we enjoy God’s answers in the spirit-filled music, the singing, the drums, the dancing! What is God saying in all this, over and over, Sunday after Sunday? ‘I love you, I love you, I love you, even if no one else loves you, I love you!’

At this point, Chastity, our organist, starts playing the organ. She’s amazing in every service with the organ and her voice. There’s clapping too. Most people are probably thinking I’m done, but I keep going.

“For 123 years, this church has been on a journey to God’s mountaintop. We’ve never been closer to that top. There’s still sacrifices to be made, suffering ahead, much to overcome, but who is with us on this journey? Who? Who strengthens us? Who – ?” (I was going to continue, “Who is always with us?”)

Everyone answers: “… God … Jesus …!”

“Jesus who comes down from Heaven to us, Jesus who is in each of us, each sister and brother! When my family, when all of us are in this church, we feel God’s loving presence.

“God’s Chariot, God’s Sweet Chariot is swinging low for us, forgiving us – no matter what we’ve done, healing us – no matter what we’ve been through, and joining us together to find our way to God’s mountaintop! This mountaintop is a dream to be followed and it’s also a blessed assurance, something we can count on! It’s also an invitation! We’re all good people! We’ve all been invited! This, like any other day, is our day, and we can do it! Together, with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we can plant seeds, together we can share meals, together we can take care of the sick, together we can conceive new ideas, together we can work in the community, fix roofs, together can see that no one is cold during the winter! We won’t do it in a day, but we can do it!

“With the Holy Spirit and Jesus, they’re helping us to bear one another’s burdens, to forgive seventy times seventy, to comfort the sorrowful, to spread kindness wherever we go, to heal the old wounds, the old divisions, and to create a new world, a wondrous world of light, based on justice, generosity, and love! And this church, this church of New Light is being given all the grace it needs to shine its light so that people [and each of us], no matter what they’ve done, no matter what they’ve been through, can find their way to peace, and also that we can all hear deeply the healing words of God, ‘I love you, I love you, I love you, even if no one else loves you, I love you!’

“Can we say it together?” Everyone proclaims in unison, “‘I love you, I love you, I love you, even if no one else loves you, I love you!’” and concludes with simultaneous and spontaneous praise and clapping, “…Thank you, God!…Amen!…Alright!…”

Here are some beautiful songs reflective of the love and singing at New Light Missionary Baptist Church:
I need you to Survive – Hezekiah Walker Trouble in My way, I have to Cry Sometimes – Dorothy Bloat
Jesus Is Love – Melvin Williams Praise Is What I Do – William Murphy

Notes:
Douglas Woods and Edward Jackson are our good neighbors on Earl Wood Road and fellow church members at New Light Missionary Baptist Church.

Related posts:

The Coyote and Our New Home
The Key Story – the first time I experienced “I love you, I love you, I love you, even if no one else loves you, I love you!”