Gathering around a campfire weaves a group together, sometimes in conversation, sometimes in song or silence. There is something about the warmth, something about the flames that draws us into companionship.
Recently, we built a fire to burn our dried out Christmas tree. The flames sparked high and bright for a brief moment as we added each section to the fire. In the light of spring we remembered the cold, dark of winter and gave thanks for this new season that is upon us.
A couple of Sundays ago we sang happy birthday to the church as we celebrated Pentecost. We read the passage from the prophet Ezekiel about the valley of dead and dry bones that God breathes life into, drawing sinew and skin onto those who have been slain. We prayed together for such new life to happen in the torn and tattered places of human community, not just here in Cook County, but in our nation and world.
I remembered hearing that jack pines don’t sprout and grow without fire and they need a really hot fire to come to life. It seems like conflict and chaos has been burning among us like a really hot fire and I wonder if jack pines will start growing around us, breathing us in peace.
On Pentecost the tongues of fire come from God and they enable people of many different nations and languages to hear each other, each in their own mother tongue. May such healing tongues of fire come to rest upon each of us and open our hearts to hearing and seeing those around us through the eyes of our loving Creator.
Imagine lions and lambs resting together. Imagine children playing with poisonous snakes and not being harmed. Such were the visions of the prophet Isaiah. Imagine a world of peace and justice for everyone.
These days it seems particularly hard to imagine such good news. It is easy to lose heart, but then I remember the writings of the Apostle Paul, “Do not lose heart.” It is a phrase he wrote more than once in his second letter to the people of Corinth, as they floundered in the midst of change and conflict that threatened to swamp and destroy their community of faith.
Knowing that change and conflict are a normal part of life in human community, Paul urged them to “not lose heart,” reminding them of God’s mercy and loving kindness. He coached them carefully and wisely in life-giving behavior, mentoring and calling them back to the ministry of reconciliation that God calls us to engage in as we listen and speak the truth in love and respect.
Paul challenged their tendency to build competing camps as he witnessed the division and despair running rampant among them, harming the whole body. Often the camps were aligned with one leader or another, “I belong to Apollos.” “I belong to Paul.” Paul reminded them that community is not a possession of a particular leader, but an expression of God’s love for all people and all creation. We are all God’s children. All voices are of equal value. All lives are of equal value.
The Psalmist tells us that God will speak peace to the people: “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet, righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.”
It is easy to rush to judgment. It is easy to be lulled into thinking there is a quick fix and we can accomplish it ourselves, but God calls us to stop and listen, to make room in our hearts, our lives, our community, so that God’s love might permeate us.
Yesterday I listened at the community Memorial service at the courthouse as two youth played Taps on their trumpets. Their music sounded in my heart and filled me with hope, reminding me that God is with us and around us, beneath us and above us, speaking hope, breathing peace for all creation. Thanks be to God!
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Beth Benson of the First Congregational Church – UCC in Grand Marais.
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