Forgive me, this will be brief and possibly not well written. But I have wanted to share something with you for so long and haven’t found the time to do it well.
This morning at breakfast I sat next to a Lutheran minister from India, who is living in Geneva, while working with the World Council of Churches, Deenabandhu Manchala . He is here teaching a class on Global Ecclesiology and makes us think about inequities in the world and the church. Also at the table, a woman who is a priest from England. Across from us, a fellow seminarian from Kenya. Yesterday I had lunch with a student from France. The night before, dinner with a passionate young woman from Haiti who is anxious to return and help her countrymen and women. My next door neighbor is a priest from Liberia. His best friend is a student from Burundi.
Tuesday, I listened to Bishop Duleep from Sri Lanka give his theological reflections on the United Nations Policy regarding intervention in the face of atrocities. One thing he said that struck a chord, “Know what you believe.” He and his wife Geetha are here on sabbatical and they truly emanate tranquility and love. They are the type of people who change where they are simply by their way of being.
Last night I went to hear Margaret Guenther speak on spirituality. She is every bit as funny, humble, and profound as you might expect. I wish I could share all of my notes, but here’s a gem. “Ask yourself, what makes me new?”
Last week I heard the Bishop of the newest country, South Sudan and his local chief, speak about what is happening in their infant country. When someone asked, “What do you need?” He replied, “We have been under the pressures of war for over 50 years. Our children know how to shoot guns. They need to learn how to run an office. We have no infrastructure.” Imagine, 50 years of war…The next morning over oatmeal I told the bishop I could not imagine how hard it would be to live under those conditions for so long. He said, “Oh, but our churches are so full and happy and alive. We have people standing outside of the churches to listen. Some walk four hours for service.”
Each one of those people has opened me to life and understanding in new ways. I had hoped to share the gifts each has given, but there are papers to write and finals to take. I am so very grateful for this window of the world. Although it can all be exhausting, as I mentioned yesterday. There is a gift in being immersed with such a diverse group of people. Of course diversity isn’t always easy, but maybe just maybe having a community of folks so very different from one another eating together, praying, together, laughing together can make some difference in the world. That is my prayer!
By the way, morning prayer was in silence this morning. HEAVEN!
Wishing you many surprising and wonderful things today.
I simply love hearing about how all of God’s people can show us different ways of seeing, hearing, and being. You simply rock, my beloved.
Dear Mary,
Thank you for sharing your HEART with us.
My new prayer each day is “God, please show me what YOU wish”.
I feel so strongly that God has chosen you . . . to fulfill what
He wishes for your life. Thank you for having such a willing spirit.
Love, Kitty
P.S. I think you “rock”. . . also.
mary, thank you for sharing your journey with us. our spirituality is greatly increased by the knowledge and experiences you share. thank you….it brings me joy and helps me to be more willing to seek His will not mine! keep sharing!
Mary,
Your post captured the depth & breadth of your rich experience so far; It feels like the outlines of a beautiful painting. While I know you could (& may someday) write a book about it, I am so touched & inspired by your words. It must be amazingly mind- & spiritually expanding to be where & who you are right now. I am grateful for you & whatever you can share now.
Love, Gayle
Mary, I’m just gushing with joy for you, and with you, over these experiences you are intentionally experiencing and examining and acting upon! Makes me miss my South Korean and African friends from Candler very much, too; I learned so much from them, and then going to the Parliament of World’s Religions 2009 was such a culmination of much of my life’s work with diverse groups of people here in B’ham and an exhilarating theological framing for ministry yet to come, but definitely in the making. Joy joy joy!