Life Always Finds a Way

 A few days ago, we were in the hot tub —our usual morning routine—watching shadows emerge as light pushed away the darkness of the night. 

“Look, Look,” I cried excitedly, pointing down our back garden. “I think it is a deer.”

We both stared, trying to focus at the shadow as the image became clearer. Eventually, we realized there wasn’t one deer but four of them. We were delighted and watched the creatures as they moved and grazed on the other side of our garden fence. As light increased it was obvious that these were two pairs each consisting of a larger mother and a year-old baby. We continued to watch in wonder.

Anyone reading this might be thinking why such excitement over seeing deer in Upstate New York. Over the years I have taken hundreds of photographs of deer. Several of them have been posted on Facebook! What may not be known is a few years ago this area decided to cull the deer. Cull—it is strange isn’t it how words are often used to mask an unpleasant truth perhaps murder or kill would have not been quite as acceptable. Many voices were raised in opposition, ours included, the debate lasted a couple of years but unfortunately the slaughter ultimately took place. It was sad, these felt like our friends, we had names for them, we had stroked them as had our grandchildren. Several years ago, one was even born in our garden in the early morning as we sat in the hot tub. The newborn remained in our garden for several weeks until big enough to jump the fence. What a joy to share those first few weeks of his life. 

Andy and I have not seen any deer for about three or four years and now we were looking at four of them. Life had not been extinguished. Life had found a way. 

It was a message of hope much needed in these days. The world is in the middle of a pandemic which will go down forever in the annals of history. I have never lived through anything like this, I suspect nor has anyone else. Today, America has the largest number of cases recorded anywhere in the world—at the moment of writing there are 123,781 cases with 2,229 deaths and 3.238 recovered. The predictions are it will get worse before it gets better. 

It is sobering to read the stories of those on the frontline in caring for those suffering. Many of the accounts highlight the severe shortages and desperate needs, as the country was and still is ill prepared to deal with a pandemic of this nature. 

I have heard and read some “this is the end of the world” theories. They are not helpful. Life will always find a way.

This Sunday’s lectionary readings give that same message. The Old Testament reading is the story of dry bones in a desert, life is breathed into them and they live (Ezekiel 37:1-14). And the gospel story is of Lazarus being raised from the dead after four days in the tomb (John 11:1-45). Popular, well-known stories. I, as many others, have talked about them often, giving them deep spiritual meaning. Today, I don’t want to look at details, I don’t want to pick out the verse or theme that spoke to me on this occasion. Today, as I read them, they gave me one message of hope — life will find a way.

I don’t want to in any way trivialize the pandemic. These are serious times, people have and will lose their lives. Yesterday, we were told that someone who was part of the congregation of the church Andy was minister of in Northumberland had died of Covid-19. Her children were the same ages as our children — we have not talked to her for over twenty-five years. Nevertheless, hearing a name of someone known in the past was a sober reminder of how serious this is. 

But for the world, the human race as a whole, life will find a way. It is a hope we can hang onto in difficult times.

 Life may be forever changed, a new consciousness has been raised in everyone about social distancing. I wonder will I ever want to be in a crowd again? Will I feel comfortable shaking someone’s hand?  Will I notice every cough I hear while out shopping? 

Our pugs are very friendly. We have deliberately socialized them to be so. We have encouraged them to meet other dogs when we are out walking. That has changed. Now when we do our daily walk, we pull the dogs close to us as we stay on opposite sides of the road from other dog walkers (although a distant wave and kindly greeting is exchanged with the humans). A couple of days ago, as we walked past another person walking their dog, our pug, Lucy, barked at it. She had never done that before. It was eye-opening as we realized, in just two weeks, we had taught her to be wary of other dogs. She will eventually need to be re-socialized. I wonder will it be the same for us humans.

But the message of hope is life may be different, but life will find a way forward.

As a final note I want to add that many people are on the cutting edge of the Covid-19 outbreak — nurses, doctors, chaplains, therapists, prison workers, etc. They are living as Christ to those they serve. 

There are also many essential workers shopkeepers, garbage collectors (dustbin people in UK), postal workers, they too are being as Christ to those they serve.

Others are accepting restrictions on daily life in hope of helping to stop the spread of this terrible disease to others. Perhaps, at home worried about family members and friends who are elderly or essential workers.

At this time, we need to uplift each other by our prayers, emails and discussions filled with hope that whatever changes, ultimately life will find a way.

All are Equal . . .

This has been quite a week! I will start my blog with my thoughts from a few days ago when I read the lectionary passage in preparation for writing this. Then I will add a couple of thoughts about the current emergency situation.

This week another well know passage is offered by the lectionary for the reading. The story is usually entitled The Woman at the Well (John 4:5-42). Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at the well and asks her for a drink. A conversation ensues where Jesus reveals that he is the one, the Messiah. I have blogged about this several times before.

I have also talked about the later conversation with the disciples where the talk is of worship, truth and mission. But this week as I read the passage one sentence really stood out to me. It was the one that recorded the reaction of the disciples on seeing Jesus with the woman. 

They “were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking to her?’(27).”

Maybe, the disciples had learnt enough to not question Jesus’ treatment of women. Good for them! Yet, the fact the narrator included the sentences they could have voiced, reveals that they were there, in the forefront of the author’s mind. 

As I read ‘Why are you speaking to her!’ I could almost hear the disdain in the narrator’s voice, and I found it really sad. It reveals patriarchy, sexism and racism — she was a Samaritan. I could excuse it by saying this was penned in a time with different social expectations regarding women and race. But today I will not do that.

I think it is even sadder to realize that although things have changed for the better, there is still a long way to go. Perhaps, my thoughts were influenced by the fact that as I read the verses to ponder over during the week, I had just heard that Elizabeth Warren had dropped out of the presidential race. Many reports I read referred to a root of patriarchy and sexism. I have heard it said that the country isn’t ready to accept a woman president!  Truthfully, I wasn’t that surprised. Yet, it is shameful that in 2020, almost two thousand years after the words of the text were penned, I can still hear the echo of that question with the same disdainful tone. 

Women are still viewed in certain areas of society as inferior and less able than men. It is said that women are equal, yet events show that is often not true. Perhaps summed up best in the famous words of George Orwell, “All are equal, but some are more equal than others.” (adapted from Animal Farm).

The above were my thoughts from earlier this week. I hope anyone reading this will pause to ponder why it is that men are often thought more capable than women!

But I can’t end this blog without a few short comments about the unfolding events of the last few days. What a week it has been! Every day has been filled with media reports that cause uncertainty, stress and often fear. We are currently in Covington, Georgia, visiting our son and daughter-in-law, and it has already crossed our minds that we may have to leave hurriedly if bans on interstate travel start to be imposed. In Georgia, the four of us are mindful of staying away from any large social gathering —enjoying lots of walks together.

I don’t want to make any comment on the actual virus— there is enough sensible medical reports out there for all to read. My advice is follow them, and be as safe as possible.

What has caused me to ponder is people’s reactions to the virus. A crisis always brings out both best and worst in people. Perhaps, I could even say it even becomes a test of human nature.

I just saw on Facebook a comment which read, “God, please put a hedge round my county so we don’t get the virus.” My instant thought was, why? Why is one person’s county or one person’s ministry more important than that of anyone else. It felt such a selfish response. As is extreme hoarding, which ultimately deprives others in need. Yet, as a balance, I have seen great generosity. I have read of people offering to share what they have and to help those in need. 

There will probably be a difficult few weeks ahead for everyone. Lots of uncertainties abound. One of the things we talked about at the community ZOOM chat last Monday was kindness. Kindness is important especially in times of crisis. So maybe, in the next few weeks, there will be many opportunities for kindness to be shown. Kindness matters! 

Choices, Choices, Choices!

Today’s text is all about the events immediately following Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4: 1-11). It is a familiar story and one I have blogged on several times. 

Jesus went into the wilderness to fast. Fasting is a thread that runs through both Old and New Testaments. I think the placement of this story at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in all the synoptic gospels was to establish a special relationship to God. Both Moses and Elijah also fasted for forty days thus allowing a connection to be made in the minds of the readers. Personally, I think this was a story made that connection right at the outset of Jesus’ ministry. This is strengthened when one compares it with the transfiguration story, and the references to Moses and Elijah there. I don’t think that is just a coincidence, but a careful placing of texts in the gospels. But I’m not going to delve into that today.

Although, in contemporary times, fasting has been used as abstinence from various other things the actual meaning is refraining from food for a period of time — it is a practice of self-denial of the body. I always think it is strange that as soon as one starts fasting, hunger or desire for food (or whatever food item is being denied) kicks in almost immediately. Even if it is at a time when one wouldn’t normally eat. It says something important about the psychological effect of fasting. But again, I’m not going to dwell there today either.

This year as I read the text, the thought (or word) that came to mind was choices. In the story Jesus was given a series of choices. Decisions needed to be made. Direction needed to be set. The choices that Jesus made have taken on a power for greater than the few verses they are penned on. They are far-reaching and have influenced generations of readers stretching over centuries.

As I read the text it made me think about life as a series of choices. I make choices and have no way to know the outcome of the direction taken. I may sometimes wonder what would have happened if I’d made a different choice — I’m sure others have on occasion wondered the same thing. Yet, there is never any way of knowing what would have happened. 

I can glance at this text and consider what would have been the outcome if Jesus had made a different choice. What if the stones had been changed into bread? Maybe the text would no longer speak of temptation. Maybe it would say that after forty days Jesus turned stone into bread to break the fast. Then, possibly, instead of a story about temptation it would have been read as a story about an amazing miracle — even the first miracle! Of course, this is pure speculation — impossible to know what the outcome would have been. 

This was simply part of my thinking about choices and “what if’s” in my own life. I always like to think of life as a journey, perhaps choices are the forks in the road. Decisions about which way to go. Choices happen throughout life. Of course, some decisions are easy while others are much harder and not made lightly. Maybe sometimes a different choice would have led down a different path — not better or worse, not right or wrong, just different.

Often trusted companions can help in a difficult choice of which fork to walk down. In the Lindisfarne Community we have many who have chosen to walk alongside those faced with hard choices in their lives — chaplains, therapists, educators, etc. It is a worthy calling to do so. Yet, in the end, each person makes their own choice. Each person walks their own path. Today, my hope is that all who are standing at a fork in their journey will be comfortable and fulfilled with the direction taken.