At work in the world about us

 

I just love it when I have those “Aha!” moments in church.  Sometimes they’re comedic, sometimes I feel like the worst person on the planet and that perhaps I ought to wear steel-toed boots to church, because of my feet being stepped on by some representative of God.  Sometimes I get validated with a sense of “I think I got the be like Jesus thing down pact.”  Then there are times when I am like OMG!  This was the case for me as I was in the first Eucharist of the academic year at work.

The Holy Eucharist is the crescendo of any worship service.  But for some of us, it’s just “what we do.”  Whether it be every time the doors swing open for service or once a month.  In the Book of Common Prayer’s Rite II Holy Eucharist, there are four Eucharistic Prayers A (my favorite), B, C and D.  For most churches, the standby Eucharistic Prayer is Prayer A.  Until last week, Eucharist Prayer C was not necessarily my favorite prayer, but I was profoundly moved by this prayer in an inexplicable way.  In the past, I always referred to Prayer C as “the lame U.F.O. prayer.”  By the end of the prayer, I feel like I’ve gone on an Apollo mission with the mentioning of Ruler of the Universe, interstellar space, galaxies, suns and primal elements.

For some reason as Chaplain Bonner-Stewart was praying this prayer, I was more alert to what was actually being said, and could have possibly been slain in the Spirit if I were Pentecostal.  My “Aha!” moment came when we got to the part of the prayer that goes like this “Lord God of our Fathers; God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us.”  Those simple lines sealed the deal for me.  

Beloved, our job as people of faith is not only to be like Jesus and love our neighbors as ourselves, but we also have a responsibility to look for the hand of God at work about us at every waking moment.  Glory to God!   It’s easy to see God moving and at work when all is right with the world, in moments of joy and happiness.  However, it is difficult to see God’s hand moving the midst of tragedy, crisis, and malaise.  Those are the times when we want to say “God, why me?”  I challenge you to conscientiously sit back and watch the hand of God at work about you, in both good and bad times.  You may become overwhelmed with a sense of great blessings and gratitude.

Peace,

Karsten

Dead seeds

 

Ok, so I really had to read through today’s gospel reading from John 12 a couple times for it to set in.  After all, who likes talking about death and dying?  I’ve recently come to grips with the fact that death is as much a part of the cycle of life as being born.  Death typically tends to be somber or sad, because there are loved ones left behind.   In today’s gospel, Jesus has an interesting conversation with Andrew and Philip.  In the conversation, Jesus says “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  I don’t know about you, but I had to do a holy eye roll and shoulder shrug on this one.  I thought to myself “Jesus, what are you talking about?”

Then it hit me.  As Christians we memorialize the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, often times mentioning these events in our Eucharistic prayers.  In today’s Forward Day by Day, I was given further insight.  Jesus was not talking about physical death, but simply how we live our lives with each other.  See, it’s like this.  When we accept Jesus into our hearts and conscientiously decide to follow him.  There is a death to ourselves, our desires and wills that take place.   

In this death, we are imbued with fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Some of us exemplify these gifts more so than others.  When we die unto ourselves and yield to God, our creator, Christ our redeemer and the Holy Spirit our guide.  The possibilities are boundless.   We are not perfect, but when we die to ourselves and are resurrected into the glory of Christ, the fruits of the Holy Spirit that spring forth are not just for us to hoard over alone but meant to be shared with the whole world, even the least of these that are frequently left out of many circles.  Go share your dead seeds and fruit!

Peace,

Karsten

 

For the facing of this hour...

It’s safe to say that September 11, 2001 is a day that everyone remembers where they were and with whom they witnessed those horrific events unfold before our eyes.  I was a much younger and novice teacher at Broughton High School in Raleigh, about to give my first test of the academic year.  It was a crisp Tuesday morning bursting with the hopeful promise of a robust autumn which would alleviate the summer’s heat. 

Fast forward eleven years into the future.  Osama Bin Laden is no longer a threat to us.  But that did not come with an easy price.  The aftermath of wars and conflicts, some of which are still in progress was a by-product of that one single event.  A very unstable national economy, corporate greed, overly inflated gas prices and soaring unemployment rates have beset what I believe to be one of the greatest countries on the planet.  Beloved, these are praying times.

At today’s chapel service at Saint Mary’s School, we paused during the Prayers of the People to remember the victims and events of September 11, 2001.  At the conclusion of the service, I was reminded by hymn # 594 in The Hymnal 1982, that God is a god of Grace and of Mercy.  Through him, the redeeming power of Christ and the renewing work of the Holy Spirit, we will be given wisdom and courage for the facing of this hour and the living of these days.

“Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days.”

From: Hymn # 594 – The Hymnal 1982

Peace,

Karsten

Got Busy?

Well, work has yet again encroached upon my life.  This time after having commingled with some colleagues upon our return, about eight of us have that scratchy, sore throat, with coughs and congestion. The beginning of school, or rather, the end of summer can be a very busy and stressful time for us all.  Whether we are teaching, or delivering our spawn to those who teach, or possibly both, there is a tremendous sense of busyness all around us. 

It's times like these that I try to remind myself that I cannot do everything that everyone wants me to do and everything on my "to do" list might not get done.  And that's okay.  In this and other seasons of busyness in our lives, just feast on the word "PEACE".  Think of how good it would be to have a little peace of mind, a calm spirit and a tranquil heart. 

I am going to challenge myself that at the beginning and close of each day, that I take about five minutes and escape to a land called peace.  Whether it be through a walk, mediation, prayer, playing the piano, singing.  It is important to steal away, in order to experience the transforming feeling of being at one with our creator, redeemer and the universe.  Trade in your busy for peace.  Got Peace?"

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

Karsten

To Chick-Fil-A or not to Chick-Fil-A?

 

To Chick-Fil-A or not to Chick-Fil-A?  That is the question.  I’ve been sitting on this for a long time, but in lieu of today, August 1, 2012 being Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, why not?  Some of you may be surprised by my opinion and my stance.  Let me just say “Say on Karsten” that it’s just that, my opinion.  My Grandpa James used to say “Opinions are like butts, everybody got one.” 

As a tried and true southern gentleman, who consumed fried chicken at least two Sundays per month growing up, I can really appreciate some good fried chicken.  Whether it comes from my momma’s kitchen, BoJangle’s, Popeye’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, my own aborted attempts and yes, Chick-Fil-A.  If you have not heard by now, Chick-Fil-A is under attack and boycott for its stand against gay marriage, and the company’s contributing millions of dollars to various organizations that are against gay rights, and Lord only knows what else.  Chick-Fil-A has taken a hit, they’ve been lambasted on the Today Show, Good Morning America and ET. 

What I’m about to say will not be popular, but let me reemphasize that it’s my opinion.  All of us on the planet has the right to believe whatever we choose.  Truett Cathy, CEO of Chick-Fil-A has every right to believe what he believes.  He further has the right to voice his opinions and beliefs however he sees fit, as long as the lives of others are not in jeopardy, and the stability of our nation is not threatened according to the United States Constitution.  Everyone has this right.  He further has the right to support whatever organizations he chooses with his money.  If you’re going to boycott an organization based on the companies that it supports, don’t you think that you should be consistent and examine every business that you fiscally support?  If we were to do this, I’m sure that Chick-Fil-A would not be the only company supporting some organization that does not meet our individual or collective societal approval.  If we were to do this, we might be shocked into nakedness and starvation.  

Another thing to consider;  if Chick-Fil-A does suffer a massive boycott, we’re just taking another jab at our economy that could stand a little boost.  When I go into a Chick-Fil-A, I immediately see a diversity of teenagers and young adults working.  If Chick-Fil-A is boycotted, on some level, the black community would be impacted, because someone’s hours would be cut because the business is not just their.  I worked as a teenager and value any teenager, especially a black youth that is trying to foster independent living skills.  I have never had a bad experience at Chick-Fil-A.  I’m always greeted pleasantly by the employees, thanked for my patronage and am told that it was a pleasure to serve me.  Why would I give that up?  Again, those are my experiences.  Yours may not be like mine. 

I appreciate the cities of Boston and Chicago not welcoming Chick-Fil-A and its ideals into their communities.  Someone has to send a message.  Is it the right message?  Has anyone that calls themselves “churched” or “spiritual” sat down to pray and meditate for the Cathys.  Jesus did tell us to pray for those that spitefully use us.  Chick-Fil-A has spitefully used our dollars to galvanize an anti-gay agenda.  The mandate then, to we who are spiritual is to pray for them.  I do not agree with where Chick-Fil-A stands on gay rights issues.  Chick-Fil-A may not agree with where I stand on medicating children for academic success, and issues that affect the black community.  One thing is clearly evident.  They can make a good chicken “sammich.”  To Chick-Fil-A or not to Chick-Fil-A?  I’ll leave that up to you.  I may just take my admin out for a Chick-Fil-A combo for lunch today.

Peace,

Karsten

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