Today is the last day. For many, the last day was some other day, but I’ve talked with enough students who will finish exams today, that today is really the last day of the semester.
And you are no longer the same.
You’ve changed.
The temptation will be to go home and be the same. You’ll try to be the same, but you will have changed and you’ll feel the difference in yourself and how you relate to others, especially those in your family. The change in yourself will because you have accomplished something, often, something difficult.
For some, the difficult piece has been grades. Applying glue to one’s backside for study always makes the world seem different. For others, it’s been surviving the wiles of an intractable roommate. For still others, life in the social lane has exposed you to people with whom you can relate and who even inspire you. For still others, the shootings of last spring’s Virginia Tech reverberated again at Von Maur and caused a painful stirring that has not yet rested.
Oh, yes, you’ve been through difficult times. As a campus, we’ve experienced everything from the selection and installation of a new Chancellor and the real and proposed exit of some of our longest friends; new buildings going up, other ones rearranged and still others becoming strong ideas. Programs are reformatted and put online, faculty are interested in taking leading roles in the community and going off campus. Transition has become a permanent state of affairs. Living in transition is difficult—it requires principles, thought, preparation and action. This adult like process requires the best and the most of us. It’s difficult. Having gone through difficult times, you have changed.
In all cases, there will be people who wish times, people and behavior remain what they’ve been, or at least, what is perceived to have been, “the way you used to be.” The tension will be palpable as you decide if you are the “same old” or if you have the “one in transition”, making decisions with a behavior in line with your new life principles.
Families and close co-workers are the most adept at desiring your old self. That’s the one with whom they are most comfortable.
This was true for Saul, also called Paul. His conversion story on the road to Damascus is will known. What is often forgotten is the story of Ananias, who was called to offer healing so Saul could regain his sight, after being struck blind (Act 9). This is the struggle of Ananias:
v. 10
“Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” He answered. “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
It’s your choice: to acknowledge and be the new person who has gone through difficult times and has new or emerging and powerful principles, or to try to ignore it all and not name it and claim it.
Make a list of those who want you to stay the same (including yourself, maybe?) and those who want the new and stronger you. Let me know how it goes.
See you second semester!
--f
Friday, December 21
Thursday, December 20
a meditatioin on taking down the Von Maur Memorial
We helped lay to rest the “shooting memorial at Von Maur. There were probably forty or so volunteers all together, and five hundred onlookers who came for a variety of reasons.
First, there was a sense that it was time for some closure. One of the folks spoke about needing to move on to normalcy. I suspect he meant normalcy being able to move on and not be tied to this event like it’s an albatross, keeping us from functioning. Of course, this would be a life of victimization. How poor would this earth be if that’s what we did! We are not victims, we are confident in God’s love. That’s normalcy: having confidence with love, all the while being aware of the albatrosses in our world. We blessed the place with our hands. Then someone in the crowd started singing “Silent Night.” We all chimed in. There was a four year old girl in the front row with a blanket over her head who sang, and a very experienced gentleman to her right to joined her. It was a song we all knew and a song for the season, and a song of hope because it joined us to That Which Is Beyond Us.
Second, there was a sense that it was time to move on. This resonated well. It is time to note we are in transition toward another time and place in our hearts. It is not healthy, I think, to easily say “good bye” and “good luck” like it never happened. Forgetfulness is a sorry state of affairs. So we must continue to be in touch with that sense of loss and pain, yet reach out to a new future, which we will create with God’s help, and which is the glory of God. At once, we are responsible and hopeful. God Is With Us.
Third, there was great probability that it is good to be together at a time like this. We all could have stayed home and been in out of the cold of the night. Instead, we showed up and did what we could, shared ourselves with one another, called on the God Who Is Larger Than Us prepared ourselves for renewal. Ann Lamott put it this way: “…it’s good to be out where others can see you, so you can’t be your ghastly spoiled self. It forces you to act slightly more elegantly, and this improves your thoughts, and thereby the world.”
A man on crutches in the front row of mourners called out to me as I was readying a teddybear for the bin. “Hold that one up, please. Janet put that there…. Yes, that’s it, it has a red scarf.” “Yes,” I responded, “it has red stripes on the scarf.” “It sure does” (he took a picture). “Thank you, sir,” he finished. “You’re very welcome.” He moved on.
So will we. I am confident we will move on.
P.S. As it turns out, being credentialed means showing up, going to the on in charge, stating who you are and why you’re there. Then you can introduce your friends, and they’re credentialed, too. Sort of like osmosis, we all got credentialed. Of course, this is Omaha, but I’ll be this system works elsewhere, too.
First, there was a sense that it was time for some closure. One of the folks spoke about needing to move on to normalcy. I suspect he meant normalcy being able to move on and not be tied to this event like it’s an albatross, keeping us from functioning. Of course, this would be a life of victimization. How poor would this earth be if that’s what we did! We are not victims, we are confident in God’s love. That’s normalcy: having confidence with love, all the while being aware of the albatrosses in our world. We blessed the place with our hands. Then someone in the crowd started singing “Silent Night.” We all chimed in. There was a four year old girl in the front row with a blanket over her head who sang, and a very experienced gentleman to her right to joined her. It was a song we all knew and a song for the season, and a song of hope because it joined us to That Which Is Beyond Us.
Second, there was a sense that it was time to move on. This resonated well. It is time to note we are in transition toward another time and place in our hearts. It is not healthy, I think, to easily say “good bye” and “good luck” like it never happened. Forgetfulness is a sorry state of affairs. So we must continue to be in touch with that sense of loss and pain, yet reach out to a new future, which we will create with God’s help, and which is the glory of God. At once, we are responsible and hopeful. God Is With Us.
Third, there was great probability that it is good to be together at a time like this. We all could have stayed home and been in out of the cold of the night. Instead, we showed up and did what we could, shared ourselves with one another, called on the God Who Is Larger Than Us prepared ourselves for renewal. Ann Lamott put it this way: “…it’s good to be out where others can see you, so you can’t be your ghastly spoiled self. It forces you to act slightly more elegantly, and this improves your thoughts, and thereby the world.”
A man on crutches in the front row of mourners called out to me as I was readying a teddybear for the bin. “Hold that one up, please. Janet put that there…. Yes, that’s it, it has a red scarf.” “Yes,” I responded, “it has red stripes on the scarf.” “It sure does” (he took a picture). “Thank you, sir,” he finished. “You’re very welcome.” He moved on.
So will we. I am confident we will move on.
P.S. As it turns out, being credentialed means showing up, going to the on in charge, stating who you are and why you’re there. Then you can introduce your friends, and they’re credentialed, too. Sort of like osmosis, we all got credentialed. Of course, this is Omaha, but I’ll be this system works elsewhere, too.
Wednesday, December 19
meditation on getting a pass and making a difference
“And the winner of the contest gets a pass to sit on the bench during the Creighton Basketball game*.”
We often wonder what’s said and done during sport events in the bench areas, or along the sidelines during football games. What is he saying to his players when he nods his head and moves his hands and arms just so? What is the coach saying to the officials? It would be fun to find out. The winner was sure happy.
And I’m sure of one thing—the pass loops around the neck of the winner and stays there. It’s his credentials that he’s official. Security and the rest of the team can look at that pass and will know he can be where he is.
In order to be helpful at the Von Maur disassembling of the door decorations, we’ll need credentialing, too. Von Maur has requested the people who photograph, remove, and store these memorial materials be credentialed. Not just anybody can do it. And that make sense. We all know: “the larger the crowd, the more organized the event has to be. Otherwise chaos can ensue.” We will need to be credentialed. It doesn’t mean we need lots of training. It means we need to be trustable and someone with authority has to vouch for that. (I’ve been assured that anyone who is with me or UCMHE can get credentialed through me.)
That’s really the bottom line—the people involved tonight need to be trustable, because we’re dealing with an emotionally charged memorial, it is being preserved, not trashed. People need to understand how to follow directions. The disciples of Jesus were trustable. First, they were trustable because they were with him on his travels. They were identifiable. Second, they acted (generally!) like they belonged where they were. They knew their responsibilities. Over the three or so years they had together, they learned who was responsible for what.
Tonight, credentialed, trustable people will be handling the life of a memorial. It will be done with “truth and grace.” If you have tender hands and hearts, you can help. You can get credentialed. You can get a pass and make a difference by supporting the emotional and spiritual process of transition. If you can’t be with us, you can make a difference where you are, too, by praying for the victims, the shooter and the city at 8:00 PM. tonight.
Mark 14:12
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, :?Where do you want us to go and make the preparation for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, saying to the, “Go into the city… .”
*(My apologies to UNO fans—it’s just that I heard this on the radio and I went with it—the same idea would work at UNO hockey games, volleyball games, soccer games, you name it).
We often wonder what’s said and done during sport events in the bench areas, or along the sidelines during football games. What is he saying to his players when he nods his head and moves his hands and arms just so? What is the coach saying to the officials? It would be fun to find out. The winner was sure happy.
And I’m sure of one thing—the pass loops around the neck of the winner and stays there. It’s his credentials that he’s official. Security and the rest of the team can look at that pass and will know he can be where he is.
In order to be helpful at the Von Maur disassembling of the door decorations, we’ll need credentialing, too. Von Maur has requested the people who photograph, remove, and store these memorial materials be credentialed. Not just anybody can do it. And that make sense. We all know: “the larger the crowd, the more organized the event has to be. Otherwise chaos can ensue.” We will need to be credentialed. It doesn’t mean we need lots of training. It means we need to be trustable and someone with authority has to vouch for that. (I’ve been assured that anyone who is with me or UCMHE can get credentialed through me.)
That’s really the bottom line—the people involved tonight need to be trustable, because we’re dealing with an emotionally charged memorial, it is being preserved, not trashed. People need to understand how to follow directions. The disciples of Jesus were trustable. First, they were trustable because they were with him on his travels. They were identifiable. Second, they acted (generally!) like they belonged where they were. They knew their responsibilities. Over the three or so years they had together, they learned who was responsible for what.
Tonight, credentialed, trustable people will be handling the life of a memorial. It will be done with “truth and grace.” If you have tender hands and hearts, you can help. You can get credentialed. You can get a pass and make a difference by supporting the emotional and spiritual process of transition. If you can’t be with us, you can make a difference where you are, too, by praying for the victims, the shooter and the city at 8:00 PM. tonight.
Mark 14:12
On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, :?Where do you want us to go and make the preparation for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, saying to the, “Go into the city… .”
*(My apologies to UNO fans—it’s just that I heard this on the radio and I went with it—the same idea would work at UNO hockey games, volleyball games, soccer games, you name it).
Tuesday, December 18
a meditation on the opening of Von Maur, Wednesday, 8PM
The library is chock full of folks cranking out material on the work station computers. Yesterday, intense faces were focused screenward in dramatic focused fashion. In the side rooms, groups were putting finishing touches (we hope!) on projects to submit. The usual banter was at a low ebb. Fewer phones were going on off. The conversation seemed to hush. We’re talking serious work, here, folks. Working on to finish the semester!
And what about next week? Not many were openly thinking about that, but we know the end is coming and next week will be here. One student articulated the anxiety by noting, “I can’t make plans for Christmas break! I’ve got to finish this paper and exam.”
Next week will come, and if my suspicions hold true, Santa will show up on schedule, someone will make Christmas dinner, and life will go on. The healing process of the semester’s whirlwind end will begin to take shape. Old communities will shift, and new ones will form. Some of our lab partners and folks we got to know because of schedule will move on for the same reason—schedule.
Community building, disengagement, and rebuilding is part of the faithful life. While community can take many forms, it is always present. There are no complete loners in the authentic Christian religious world.
Wednesday night at 8:00 PM at Von Maur’s entrances, there will be another opportunity to shift from one community and build another. The wider community of Omaha is invited to join the mayor and the Nebraska Historical Society, to carefully take down the snowflakes and remembrances in such a way so that they can be preserved.
This is a healthy activity for individuals , families and groups. It builds the larger community, and recognizes the connection to the one broken by a shooter. We take stock in ourselves and our beliefs, our hopes and our dreams. This is the stuff of humanity. It will be a good time to be together.
Let’s plan to be there. If there’s energy, time and interest, we’ll hit the food court for dessert after.
Luke 5:8 and following—on creating new community
But when Simon Peter saw it,(the big fish catch and near sinking of the boat) he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
A similar event takes place in 5:27:
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up, left everything, and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them.
And what about next week? Not many were openly thinking about that, but we know the end is coming and next week will be here. One student articulated the anxiety by noting, “I can’t make plans for Christmas break! I’ve got to finish this paper and exam.”
Next week will come, and if my suspicions hold true, Santa will show up on schedule, someone will make Christmas dinner, and life will go on. The healing process of the semester’s whirlwind end will begin to take shape. Old communities will shift, and new ones will form. Some of our lab partners and folks we got to know because of schedule will move on for the same reason—schedule.
Community building, disengagement, and rebuilding is part of the faithful life. While community can take many forms, it is always present. There are no complete loners in the authentic Christian religious world.
Wednesday night at 8:00 PM at Von Maur’s entrances, there will be another opportunity to shift from one community and build another. The wider community of Omaha is invited to join the mayor and the Nebraska Historical Society, to carefully take down the snowflakes and remembrances in such a way so that they can be preserved.
This is a healthy activity for individuals , families and groups. It builds the larger community, and recognizes the connection to the one broken by a shooter. We take stock in ourselves and our beliefs, our hopes and our dreams. This is the stuff of humanity. It will be a good time to be together.
Let’s plan to be there. If there’s energy, time and interest, we’ll hit the food court for dessert after.
Luke 5:8 and following—on creating new community
But when Simon Peter saw it,(the big fish catch and near sinking of the boat) he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
A similar event takes place in 5:27:
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up, left everything, and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them.
Monday, December 17
a meditation on carrying hot water
Participating yields connection.
Yesterday, I helped at a baptism. At the church, the baptismal font was a large cylinder . At a cut out, the cylinder spilled into a lower tank area on floor level. The water was very cool. Someone wisely decided to that the water was too cold for an immersion baptism.
So the father of the baby and the priest took buckets of the cold water out. Six to be precise. Then they started bringing buckets of hot water back in. I volunteered to help. “Sure, you can do that.” So I went to the hot water spigot with my bucket and brought in three more buckets of hot water. That combined with the cold and the baptism water was now warm. Perfect. The immersion went off swimmingly, so to speak.
Afterward, I reflected on the experience and realized I felt connected to the ceremony. Probably, I suppose, because I had some small part in it. For me to be connected, I need to participate. Is it the same for you?
Perhaps you’ve felt connected through participation, too. Perhaps on the athletic field or in a classroom setting, either through asking questions on in a study group, perhaps even in taking notes and reviewing them. In that way, we become part of what’s going on, and we have a little more connection to it.
I stopped at Oak View Mall and noted outside the doors on the are some tables with papers on them. People can write messages of condolence or of hope. Many were making snowflakes with no comment at all. They just wanted to make something that said, “Hey, I was here and I’m here for you.” Windows and doorways are plastered with this participation.
Our lives are full of opportunities for participation, and our lives are all the more full for having done so. When you participate, you make a difference. Everyone can do this.
Luke 8:1
Soon afterwards he went o through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women….”
“Thank you” for taking classes, “thank you” for learning, and “thank you” for being part of the emerging UNO community.
Yesterday, I helped at a baptism. At the church, the baptismal font was a large cylinder . At a cut out, the cylinder spilled into a lower tank area on floor level. The water was very cool. Someone wisely decided to that the water was too cold for an immersion baptism.
So the father of the baby and the priest took buckets of the cold water out. Six to be precise. Then they started bringing buckets of hot water back in. I volunteered to help. “Sure, you can do that.” So I went to the hot water spigot with my bucket and brought in three more buckets of hot water. That combined with the cold and the baptism water was now warm. Perfect. The immersion went off swimmingly, so to speak.
Afterward, I reflected on the experience and realized I felt connected to the ceremony. Probably, I suppose, because I had some small part in it. For me to be connected, I need to participate. Is it the same for you?
Perhaps you’ve felt connected through participation, too. Perhaps on the athletic field or in a classroom setting, either through asking questions on in a study group, perhaps even in taking notes and reviewing them. In that way, we become part of what’s going on, and we have a little more connection to it.
I stopped at Oak View Mall and noted outside the doors on the are some tables with papers on them. People can write messages of condolence or of hope. Many were making snowflakes with no comment at all. They just wanted to make something that said, “Hey, I was here and I’m here for you.” Windows and doorways are plastered with this participation.
Our lives are full of opportunities for participation, and our lives are all the more full for having done so. When you participate, you make a difference. Everyone can do this.
Luke 8:1
Soon afterwards he went o through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women….”
“Thank you” for taking classes, “thank you” for learning, and “thank you” for being part of the emerging UNO community.
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