\nalso mention this story because I think it has to do with living
\n\u201clife abundant\u201d or \u201clife with God\u201d or \u201ca spiritual life\u201d
\nor \u201clife eternal\u201d or participating in \u201cshalom.\u201d \u00a0Those are
\nall the same thing as far as I’m concerned. \u00a0 <\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/dd8f26081743c6d8ef5a152c0c79a493\/f4418dfe215d3c55-09\/s540x810\/eafc92098b8836fc7e850013457a63d0c0204d58.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n
Much
\nof life is outside of our control, and the way we respond to it is
\ngoing to impact us and those around us. \u00a0Often it is easier to focus
\non what we can control, right? \u00a0To talk about what we can do
\ntogether, to focus on what we can do with God, to dream about change,
\nand to work towards justice. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I
\nlike those topics a lot. \u00a0But the truth is that there are a lot of
\nthings we can’t control, and that’s really hard. \u00a0REALLY hard. \u00a0We
\ncannot control how long we live or when we die, nor how long those we
\nlove live or when they die. \u00a0REALLY hard. \u00a0We cannot control other
\npeople or their choices. \u00a0REALLY hard. \u00a0We cannot control or change
\nour past nor its traumas. \u00a0We cannot control how other people treat
\nus. \u00a0Most of us cannot control our income streams, and whether or not
\nthey are sufficient. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There
\nare a lot of things we can’t control, and that’s really hard.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And
\nwhen we are facing things we can’t control, the only control have is
\nhow we respond. \u00a0This can feel too small. \u00a0But, actually, it is a big
\nhuge deal. \u00a0Because, truly, I can spend my days annoyed at stoplights
\nor not. \u00a0And the only thing that changes is my level of annoyance.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When
\nI read wise spiritual teachers, I am rather shocked at how often they
\ntalk about doing the dishes. \u00a0For such a mundane task, spiritual
\nteachers seem to love talking about it. \u00a0I think this is because
\nspiritual teachers tend to think that life abundant is in the actual,
\nmundane lives we live.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I \nSeveral years ago I invited a \n<\/p>\n \n\u201cStatistically, it’s highly \n<\/p>\n Brother \nThe time of business, does not \n<\/p>\n Many <\/p>\n Minor <\/p>\n A <\/p>\n Our <\/p>\n But <\/p>\n Most <\/p>\n But <\/p>\n And <\/p>\n Because <\/p>\n Jesus <\/p>\n Now, <\/p>\n But <\/p>\n In <\/p>\n That’s <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1<\/a>I <\/p>\n Rev. Sara E. Baron <\/p>\n Image: Tree of LIfe May 22, 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nrecently came across this story, attributed to a John Perricone who I
\nknow nothing about1<\/sup><\/a>:<\/p>\n
\nBuddhist monk to speak to my Senior elective class, and quite
\ninterestingly as he entered the room he didn’t say a word (that
\ncaught everyone’s attention). \u00a0He just walked to the board and wrote
\nthis: \u201cEVERYONE WANTS TO SAVE THE WORLD, BUT NO ONE WANTS TO HELP
\nMOM DO THE THE DISHES.\u201d \u00a0We all laughed, but then he went on to say
\nthis to my students:<\/p>\n
\nunlikely that any of you will ever have the opportunity to run into a
\nburning orphanage and rescue an infant. \u00a0But,<\/b>
\nit is <\/b>the smallest gesture of kindness – – a warm
\nsmile, holding the door for the person behind you, shoveling the
\ndriveway of the elderly person next door – – you have committed an
\nact of immeasurable profundity, because to each of us, our life is
\nour universe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nLawrence was a monk in the 17th<\/sup> century who was assigned
\nto doing dishes in the monastery. \u00a0He wrote:<\/p>\n
\nwith me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter
\nof my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for
\ndifferent things, I possess GOD in as great tranquillity as if I were
\nupon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament.<\/p>\n
\nothers are on this dishes bandwagon too. \u00a0 The gist seems to be that
\nyou can do dishes and be annoyed by them (easy!), you can do dishes
\nand distract yourself from them (TV! \u00a0Podcasts!), AND you can also do
\ndishes mindfully. \u00a0You can let yourself be in the present. \u00a0You can
\nnotice the warmth of the water, the shine of the bubbles, the drip
\ndrying, the ground under your feet, the way the light dances around
\nthe room. \u00a0You can do dishes and be alive! \u00a0You can do dishes and
\nnotice that this is the one life you have to live and whether or not
\ndishes are what you’d most like \u00a0to be doing right now, dishes are
\nwhat you ARE doing right now and you can be attentive to life itself
\nwhile you are doing them if you want. \u00a0You can notice how your body
\nis feeling, attend to emotions, see what stories are going through
\nyour head, see if peace is at hand. \u00a0Dishes can be a conduit to a
\nfull life because a full life can be lived while doing dishes. \u00a0Or
\nbecause life is life, and it involves a lot of dishes.<\/p>\n
\nconfession, I am actually not the dish-washer in my own home. \u00a0Good
\nnews is that dishes are just one of many mundane domestic tasks.
\nThis all seems like it can apply to cooking, cleaning, grass cutting,
\ngrocery shopping, etc.<\/p>\n
\nwriter named Matt Haig (who I believe is an atheist) says, \u201cTo be
\ncalm becomes a kind of revolutionary act. \u00a0To be happy with your own
\nnon-upgraded existence. \u00a0To be comfortable with our messy, human
\nselves, would not be good for business.\u201d \u00a0Peace. \u00a0Peace isn’t good
\nfor business. \u00a0Peace, calm, being present IS abundant life though.
\nAnd it is part of how we steel ourselves to continue doing the work
\ntowards justice instead of just being crushed by the brokenness of
\nthe world.<\/p>\n
\ntexts today take on big topics. \u00a0God’s grace, God’s blessing’s.
\nPeace, which is shalom, which is communal well-being and shared
\nabundant life. \u00a0Living as God asks us to. \u00a0Learning.<\/p>\n
\nin the end, our faith lives are a part of our \u201creal\u201d lives, the
\nnormal every day lives that for most of us involve plenty of mundane
\ntasks. \u00a0Most of us, most of the time, aren’t pursuing shalom in big
\nand glorious ways. \u00a0We’re trying to find it in the midst of what
\nalready is.<\/p>\n
\nof us, most of the time, aren’t experiencing blessing in big loud
\nways either. \u00a0They’re sort of quiet, most blessings.<\/p>\n
\npeace, shalom, abundant life. \u00a0\u201cPeace I leave with you; my
\npeace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not
\nlet your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.\u201d \u00a0The
\npeace Jesus gives, that’s what we’re allowing to take up residence in
\nus. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\nwhile there are a lot of ways of getting there, they seem to me to
\nsum up to two imperative and interconnected pieces: \u00a0be present in
\nyour own life \u2013 often, and be present in relationships. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\nthat’s where it all is! \u00a0Presence, and relationships. \u00a0That’s
\nabundant life. \u00a0Relationships with others, relationships with God,
\nand while we’re at it, relationships even with ourselves. \u00a0Which is
\nanother way of saying being present to our own lives.<\/p>\n
\nwas all about relationships, his ministry was spending time with
\npeople and helping people connect with each other. The Bible is about
\nhow to build societies full of good relationships. \u00a0Good lives are
\nones with good relationships. \u00a0Good relationships with God ARE
\nspirituality. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\nI’m saying this to a congregation where people are struggling because
\n1. being together with those we love \u00a0STILL isn’t safe and that hurts
\nour hearts and 2. many people are just so overwhelmed by life and its
\ndemands that they aren’t able to find the time for the relationships
\nthey value. \u00a0And it is not my intention to place additional burdens
\non those already struggling.<\/p>\n
\nI do wish to remind you to use the control you have to move your life
\ntowards connection and relationship. \u00a0And, I will go back to the
\nbeginning. \u00a0The things you can’t control, you can at least change
\nsome of the narrative on. \u00a0There isn’t much value in spending life
\nbeing annoyed at stoplights. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\nfact, you could take stoplights as an invitation to pray, or to
\nlisten to emotions, or to stretch, or to just breathe. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\nprobably one easy way forward towards abundant life. \u00a0May we together
\nfind lots of others! \u00a0Amen\n<\/p>\n
\n\tdid google the name, and a viable candidate for these words emerged,
\n\tbut I have no way of knowing if it is indeed the right person.<\/p>\n
First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305
Pronouns: she\/her\/hers
http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/<\/a>
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FUMCSchenectady<\/a><\/p>\n
Notes:Four
\n artists created this work: Adelino Serafim Mat\u00e9, Fiel dos Santos,
\nHilario Nhatugueja et Christavao Canhavato (Kester), in Maputo,
\nMozambique, 2004.It is a product of the Transforming Arms into Tools
\n(TAE) project and is made from decommissioned weapons. TAE was set up by
\n Bishop Dom Dinis Sengulane in 1995 and is supported by Christian Aid.
\nDuring Mozambique’s civil war, which lasted from 1976 to 1992, millions
\nof guns and other weapons poured into the country and most of them
\nremain hidden or buried in the bush. The project is an attempt to
\neliminate the threat presented by the hidden weapons. Mozambicans are
\nencouraged to hand them over in exchange for items like ploughs,
\nbicycles and sewing machines. In one case a whole village gave up its
\nweapons in exchange for a tractor. [African Department, British Museum}<\/p>\n