meditation on mid-terms #3

Meditation on Mid-terms #3

Anyone can make a contribution. That’s true for charitable causes and it’s true for mutual support.

Last night’s Inclusive Spiritual Seekers brought together three songs of special spiritual value to our group: “Blackbird”, by Paul McCartney (of the Beatles); “When David Heard” by Eric Whitacre.” a modern classical group vocal piece on the story of David and the death of his son, Absalom (2 Samuel 18:33); and the suicide referencing “Poison Oak” by Bright Eyes. The three presenters did not know what the others were bringing, so it was just one of those God things. We listened and shared from our depths—nothing pushy or flagrant. Just the realities from life that cause what John of the Cross called, “the dark night of the soul.”

Many people would agree that dragging around in discouragement would end in nothing but a deep cesspool of hopelessness. Not so last night. Analysis of form, musicality and lyrics revealed a biblically true and faithful hope that comes from unhappiness when declared, claimed, and shared. We recalled stories of birds: from Noah and the bird with the Olive Branch, “Man of La Mancha” little bird in the cinnamon tree, a blackbird singing in darkness and light, and a yellow bird of love (even if alone). There were more bird songs in our heads and hearts. I forgot to mention John Prine’s famous bird, “the dove of love fell off the perch” in his song, “Jesus, the Missing Years.”

When we claimed our periods of no hope, the gathering gained strength and shared purpose—not just to wallow in problems, but to describe God’s love and hope.

Jesus was not afraid of the dragging the depths either. He noted in this story, that when we are surrounded with emptiness, we can make a contribution. Any contribution can be strengthening, even if we think it small:

Matthew 24

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’