Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.  Joseph Campbell

Meditation: It takes courage to find one’s own way. It is easier to follow the crowd or to do what is expected. If we follow our bliss, we follow our heart. We follow that which calls us by name. We take the risk to be laughed at, misunderstood or judged for being different. However, if we do not allow those voices to stop us, but we lean into that which feels most life giving and life affirming, then we will find the life we could have never designed, we could have never envisioned ourselves. As we follow step by step this journey into our bliss as God’s purpose for our life or God’s calling on our life…we might be doubtful, fearful and stuck at times. However, if we continue to seek, if we do not stop knocking, we will find our bliss… or it will find us.

Prayer: Creative God, you piece together our life like a mosaic. You have known the complete picture all along, while we could only see little pieces, small glimpses of that which You have in store for us. We are deeply grateful that You want to help us put those pieces together along the way and also in the end. Our life might never be perfect, but it will be beautiful. Despite detours, despite broken pieces, despite times where it feels like nothing is coming together: You will open the door. In Your presence we will find our bliss, and we will be made whole. Amen

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. Maya Angelou

Meditation: At a time when the US talks about building walls between us and our neighbor, Easter even more so becomes a symbol of love overcoming all obstacles. What greater obstacle is there than death itself? What greater loss? What greater experience of finite reality? God’s story with humanity includes the rolling away of a large stone. It celebrates the unheard of: the overcoming of death itself. God’s resounding “Yes” triumphs over human hate saying “No”. God’s story did not end, even when we humans tried to erase it. God is Love. And love finds creative, powerful, insistent, patient and surprising ways. Easter is real! Easter will have the last word!

Prayer: God of love, You create out of nothing. You bring back that which was lost and dead. You jump, leap and penetrate all barriers. You are the surprising and unimaginable power of love expressed in the resurrection. You elevate the one that was brutally killed. You bring back all those discarded and forgotten. Your love includes the most vulnerable in Your creation. You will never forget, even the least of us. You remember, You save us, even from death. Your light transforms our darkness. Hallelujah!

Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people. Carl Jung

Meditation: On Black Saturday Jesus descended into the realm of darkness, the realm of the dead, which the Apostles’ Creed calls “hell” or “Sheol”. Some theologians distinguish “Sheol” from the “hell of the damned”. When I was a child, I thought Jesus was very courageous to enter any of those places that we cannot even mention with the unspeakable “h” word. God in the Hebrew Scriptures was known as completely separate from “Sheol”. In “Sheol” all the dead had to wait until one day the Messiah would come at the end of times to release them. Christians confess that Jesus was the one who after his own death already entered the realm of the dead. He visited “Sheol”. He went to where the God how we knew God before could have never gone. And since Jesus entered the darkness of “Sheol” himself, this realm of the dead has never again been separated from God. This is why we can believe that our loved ones who died won’t have to wait until the end of time, but have already been visited and have already been included in the realm of God’s Kingdom.

Prayer: God of darkness, today we experience the day after Good Friday similarly as we experience the darkness after the loss of a loved one. And some of us experience darkness also as being locked in depression or anguish, as the “dark night of the soul”. As we learn that You entered our deepest darkness, we dare to pray: “Come, and join those we love and who have died”. “Come and join us in our dark night, us, he living dead”. You know every darkness and every shadow of our human existence. Nothing is foreign to you. And because of that, we hope for Your light to find us. Because You did not shy away from our darkness, we find hope for tomorrow. Amen

Our God is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us and to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79

Christmas and Easter can be subjects for poetry, but Good Friday, like Auschwitz, cannot. The reality is so horrible it is not surprising that people should have found it a stumbling block to faith.  W.H. Auden

Meditation: Even Jesus had moments when he lost his faith asking “Why have You forsaken me?”. He was going through tremendous suffering and agony at that moment. He was truly human. He shared all of our experiences, even that of losing trust and faith in God. Today is a black day. A day that does not allow not for poetry or beauty to cover up what Jesus went through. A day so bad that it was called “Good”. Jesus is joined by the countless victims of violence all over the world. There are no words to express the horror of the crucifixion. No words to describe the humiliation and the dehumanization of Auschwitz. No words to capture the horrors of the wars going on all around our globe.

Prayer: God in Jesus, the Christ, we believe that You suffered. You were crucified. You died. Often we want to protect You from such thoughts, as You are considered holy, almighty and removed from our earthly lot. However, You chose to come into hell on earth, You chose to abandon Your might in order to share our earthly lot, even through the horrors of violent death. God, help our unbelief. When we lose faith, let us join our brother Jesus by screaming: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” You hear our lament, You know how we feel. Amen

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Matthew 27:46

 

The U.S. immigration laws are bad – really, really bad. I’d say treatment of immigrants is one of the greatest injustices done in our government’s name. Bill Gates

Meditation: Today one of our chaplaincy students from Kenya has a court immigration hearing at 8am in the morning. His fate will be determined. About two years ago his student visa ran out. The lawyer who was supposed to get him a religious worker visa back then made a mistake. And so, he has become “illegal”. More than a year ago, his court date had been set for today. His new immigration lawyer was hopeful back then, and told him not to worry, she would straighten things out for him, as a genuine mistake was made. However, four months ago, things changed. There might not be a category for genuine mistakes anymore, illegal is illegal. You have to have the right paper work, or you have committed a crime by overstaying your visa illegally. The threat is first imprisonment, then deportation and then a 10 year ban from returning to the US. The Kenyan young man has been in the US for seven years, studying, furthering his education wherever possible, leading a small congregation… tomorrow might be his last day of freedom in this country…

Prayer: God, we pray for our Kenyan brother. We pray that his lawyer will find a way for him to receive a religious worker visa based on the mistake made, his character and educational history. We pray whatever will happen in that court room, that You will be present with him. Be a shield and protection if things do not go as hoped. We pray that whatever will happen, he will find refuge in You. God, have mercy. Amen

Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. Psalm 57:1

 

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” ―C.S. Lewis

Meditation: Sometimes we don’t feel romantic love anymore. We then worry about our partnership. Many measure their love on how often they still go out on a date or how often flowers are still being brought home. Those expressions and times can be nice refreshers of the relationship. However, sometimes we don’t feel romantic love anymore. We wonder if the relationship is still alive and well. I often ask couples if they still pray for each other. In prayer we release fears, measurement and judgements about the other person and about the relationship. Instead, we call on God’s Spirit to fill the person we are committed to with love. We pray for all that he or she needs to grow, be well and flourish. Shifting the focus from taking our romantic pulse, and lifting the partner up to God has healing and sustaining power.

Prayer: God of love, today we lift our partners up to You. We pray for Your Spirit to fill them with your healing presence and love. We pray that they may blossom and grow in ways only You can bring forth. We pray that they will be happy and fulfilled. We pray for their body, mind and spirit to be filled with peace and with love. Amen

Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. Matthew 19:6

 

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu

Meditation: When my children say “I love you”, they want to hear the same back from us parents: “I love you, too”. If I ever forget or I do not hear them, they quickly make sure that I hear them, and that I respond. There is power in these words. The words “I love you” carry our children through the often challenging days at school, through moments without friends, through difficult experiences of rejection or judgment, through teasing and through feelings of being excluded. As we parents initiate or respond with those heart felt words, we are embracing the mystery of God.

Prayer: Loving God, You are the one grounding us in Your love. When we get quiet enough, we can hear Your Spirit whisper “I love you”. Our adult sorrows and our frustrations can melt away with these words. Our fear and our stress find a place of refuge. God, you are a “good enough” and available parent to us. As we allow Your love to give us strength and fill us with new courage every day, we then can remain available also to our children. Parenting, what a mystery! Amen

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1. John 3:9

 

 

 

Respect… is appreciation of the separateness of the other person, of the ways in which he or she is unique. Annie Gottlieb

Meditation: The concept of “respect” looks different in various cultures. In a more hierarchical, patriarchal or “elder” centered culture, respect means to show a behavior of submission and respect, to withhold one’s feelings or personal truth if it collides or differs from the person who is older or who has more power. “Other respect” in these cultures is a very important feature to structure life and behavior built on certain laws and societal values.

In a more mutual, democratic or female centered approach, respect means to agree to disagree at times, to express oneself, even if the other person who has more power or is older does not like the expression of one’s truth. “Self-respect” is very important to not lose oneself to the “laws” set from the outside. In this approach authenticity, congruence and self-empowerment are very important features to negotiate life and to create shared structures.

How do these two concepts critique each other and how do they complement each other? “Other-respect” and “Self-respect”, how can those both be valid and both be important?

Prayer: God, you are often portrait as having all the power, and we humans then respect you because we fear you. And yet you decided to enter our human existence and to live on our level in Jesus, the Christ. We encounter you and learn to respect you in new ways, as you came to know us, entered into relationship with us, shared our life and empathized with us. We no longer fear you, but have come to know you and love you. Our respect for you grew. And we are grateful. Amen

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. Colossians 3:20-21

 

First they came for the Jews, but I did nothing because I’m not a Jew. Then they came for the socialists, but I did nothing because I’m not a socialist. Then they came for the Catholics, but I did nothing because I’m not a Catholic. Finally, they came for me, but by then there was no one left to help me. Martin Niemoeller

Meditation: The US immigration prisons are being filled with new prisoners every day: A Mexican worker missing a paper, randomly picked up at work. A mother of five children, rushed off after dropping her children at school, all of whom were born in the US – but she was not. An Iraqi husband and father whose visa had expired and whose court date pleading for a legal way to extend his stay in the country was denied. Families ripped apart without warning. Children abandoned. Spouses separated. Mexican families are meeting in hiding to sign durable powers of attorney. “If I am getting deported, you would take my children. And if it is me, you would care for mine”… Jesus was preparing for his crucifixion this week. “This is your son – this is your mother”, he said to John, his disciple, and Mary, his mother. He is being joined this year by Mexican families who are preparing for the death of their family units…

Prayer: God of refuge, our society has become largely silent. All of this is happening, yet demonstrations have ceased. We get worried or distracted with the latest international news, while men and women who do not have their proof of citizenship are randomly detained. You know these are no criminals. You know these are husbands, wives, and parents all of whom are being imprisoned and deported for no reason other than being declared as “unwanted”, “illegal” or “criminals”. God, let us not repeat history! Let the church awake and speak. Let the people rise up to demonstrate. God of refuge, hear our prayer! Amen

When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien.  The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt:  I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34 and 24:22

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. Jesus Christ, Matthew 11:28

Meditation: It is spring break. Many flee the city to get away. Most of us try to catch a moment of rest as we are worn out from politics, school, work and the hassles of traffic. “Get away with me and you’ll recover your life” sounds more like a modern beach advertisement rather than like this Jewish man some 2000 years ago inviting his disciples “to get away with him”. He wanted them to become differentiated from their everyday existence by finding rest in a relationship with God that is colored by the experience of grace. Maybe “getting away” can be both? As our family gets away to enjoy the beach, I hope we can find physical and mental rest, but also allow our soul to eat and drink from this spiritual fountain by getting immersed in the experience of God’s grace in nature and play, in being together as a  family and in freedom from work and in the freedom to just “be”.

Prayer: God of grace, You set us free. When we enter into a relationship with You, we learn from this man Jesus the “unforced rhythms of grace”. We breathe in acceptance and breathe out anger. We breathe in forgiveness and breathe out hatred. We breathe in serenity and breathe out stress. Spirit of God, healing air of grace, breathe on us and breathe through us. Amen

I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Jesus Christ Matthew 11:29