A New Set of Eyes

As part of my diaconal internship duties, this past Tuesday, I had the pleasure of speaking and sharing a meditation followed by Eucharist with about a dozen elderly members of the Springmoor Retirement Community.  I must admit that I was nervous about what I would say to them.  Seriously?  What could I tell them?  Clearly these people have had lots more life experiences, and frankly I could stand to learn a thing or two from them.  Thank God that the Holy Spirit came through!  The reading came from I Samuel 15:34-16:13, the story of when David was anointed king of Israel by Jesse.  This is one of my favorite bible stories.  In this story we see how God at times will choose the least likely person to do his will at that time for his people.  

God sent Samuel, a priest to Bethlehem to anoint King Saul’s successor.  Samuel went to Jesse’s house, as God instructed.  All of Jesse’s sons came before Samuel, and God said nope, nope, absolutely not, not on your life, as the sons walked by and were presented before Samuel.  But after Jesse’s first son Eliab came out, God spoke to Samuel and said “For the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  I’m pretty sure that after all of Jesse’s sons had come before Samuel, he was more than agitated, probably thinking that God was wasting his time.  He turned and asked Jesse.  “Are these all your sons?”  Jesse quickly remembered that David, the baby of the family was outside tending sheep.  Samuel sent for David and God said that is the one.  Samuel poured the oil on David and the Bible says that the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.

I love this story, David’s own dad had forgotten about him as being a potential king and nearly missed out on a blessing.  It is so easy for us to look at the outer appearance of our brothers and sisters.  I asked my elderly audience to allow me to look at them through God’s eyes.  When I looked at them through God’s eyes, and looked at their hearts, I saw people that were full of life and love, people who had raised children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, people of vision and wisdom, people of a strong and rich heritage.  But most importantly, I saw people that were made in the image and love of God, whose life stories at times demanded that they walk by faith and not by sight.  Through the eyes of God, a new set of eyes, I saw God in them, and I hope that they saw God in me.

Peace,

Karsten

Can I get a hook up?

 

In a former life, I used to work in the world of retail at Dillard's department store.  Sometimes when I would visit my family; they would always tell me "I'm coming into Dillard's, so you can hook me up with your employee discount."  I have also benefited from getting hooked up, so to say.  I'm at a point in my career where I see former students working and making a way for themselves just as I am.  Let's see, there was Alicia, who always hooked me up with free tickets to the movies whenever she was working.  Then there was Shamel, who would always hook me up with a good old burrito from one of my favorite Mexican restaurants.  In the black community, the hook up is about as common place as BET, bling-bling, and good soul food.   Urban dictionary.com defines hook up as "a received good or service as a favor."

Cynthia Marshall, President of AT&T North Carolina was the commencement oratrix at the Saint Mary's School graduation a few weeks back.  I admire Ms. Marshall very much.  She's an overcomer and survivor of stage III colon cancer.  Ms. Marshall had the graduates stand up and link arms.  She told them that she was going to teach them about H.A.S.U., and that what they were doing was a symbolic representation of the H.A.S.U.,  which stands for "Hook A Sistah Up."  She further told the graduates that as they were about to leave Saint Mary's, that it is their responsibility to "Hook each other up,"  hold each other accountable in love and in the spirit of their alma mater.

I teach at a girls school, so I quickly turned H.A.S.U. into "H.A.B.U." for "Hook A Brutha Up!"  Let's face it, I need a hook up blessing from time to time.  Regardless of whether you're male or female, there will always be times when we have the opportunity to "Hook up" our fellow companion with an opportunity, a word of encouragement, joy for the journey, the gift of our presence or to reach down and pull them up.  Just as we will be called to "hook up" our brothers and sisters, remember that at times we will be blessed with the "hook up."  Be open and receptive to the H.A.S.U. and H.A.B.U. moments around you.  As you go about your day today, think about how you might be able to hook a brother or a sister up.  Remember that in life you give what you get. 

Peace,
Karsten

Humans becoming

 

Okay, now that I am officially on summer vacay mode, I guess it’s time to dust off the old blogspot.  I am reminded of something that Theo Coonrod, outgoing Head of School at Saint Mary’s said to the senior class during her remarks to the graduating class of 2012 a few weeks back.  She told the class and those assembled that “we are not human beings, but rather humans becoming.”  In her address, Ms. Coonrod told the students that instead of a state of being human, we are humans becoming.  We are always and should be striving to be a better person, a better citizen, a better student, a better mother, father, spouse, significant other, etc. and just a better being, period.  

Achieving human becoming status is a process, and not an event.  I would liken it to a journey.  In a physical journey, we reach a final destination.  It could be around the corner, down the hall, or across the planet.  Wherever your journey leads you, there is always a process of preparation.  The problem with attaining human becoming status is that in the process of “becoming” better, be it financially, materially or spiritually, we are always trying to arrive to a land called There.  Sometimes when we get “There,” we quickly discover that “There” is not there.  Whether it’s the beachfront property, new car, college degree, job promotion, or new opportunities to serve in a faith community; It seems as if we’ve come a long way and made progress, but still have a greater distance to go and more work to do in the land of There.  

As we strive for the status of humans becoming, let’s always be mindful of the fact that life is a journey.  We will have delays, missed connections, extended layovers, cancellations and accidents along the way.  The way of becoming better is in some way a traverse peregrination.  In everything that we become, never lose sight of the One who creates, redeems and sustains us.  In addition, let’s not become so fixated on the destination that we lose sight of the journey.  Life is a trip, embrace it.

Peace,

Karsten