Most of us are living a closed-in, closed-down life. We\u2019re waiting for this strange time to pass. And by \u2018strange time\u2019 I certainly mean the pandemic, but I mean more than that: I mean what\u2019s been unleashed in public life in recent years: corruption, bigotry, violence. These also can put us back on our heels, sheltered, for safety. The pandemic requires me to stay apart from others, but the bigotry, violence and corruption can lead me to cower in a bunker, shut up in my house, waiting for it all to pass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes it feels like a strange dream: this is not my country; this is not my world. But I know that it is my country and my world. Waiting it out, cowering: these are not what I should be doing, or certainly not all that I should be doing. It can feel like I don\u2019t have much to offer \u2013 or that we don\u2019t have much to offer. It feels like I just have to wait it out \u2013 all the bad stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But on second thought I think we do have things to offer.\u00a0 That\u2019s what\u2019s on my mind this morning.\u00a0 What Have We to Offer?\u00a0 I\u2019ve been making a list.\u00a0 So, six things we have to offer\u2013 and I\u2019m sure this is a partial list.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…….<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Here\u2019s a third thing we can offer: \u201cJesus has come to teach his people himself.\u201d In this community, Durham Friends Meeting, we know God will speak to us if we still ourselves and listen. God will give us comfort. Even more, God or Spirit will show us the way. What an amazing thing this is that we have to offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re not alone in the bunker. We\u2019re in this together, and we\u2019re in it with God. This idea that God speaks to us in the present: that is a very special thing that Quaker Meetings have to offer. We should take advantage of this gift, and we do. And we should share this gift with others \u2013 as often and loudly as we can. We have a Teacher with us, always, to give us insight and courage, reassurance and encouragement. So this is a third thing we have to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. And here\u2019s a fourth thing we have to offer, one we grasp when we truly grasp God will speak to us in the present. We can remind ourselves that the Kingdom of Heaven is here now. Of course it doesn\u2018t come automatically; it\u2019s ours to build, this Kingdom of Heaven. It\u2019s not easy and not quick; it will take persistence and courage. Still, the Kingdom of Heaven isn\u2019t in some distant future, the Rapture or the Second Coming, something in the unknown future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re not waiting; we\u2019re building.\u00a0 We remind ourselves of this, and if we\u2019re on our game, we tell other people this.\u00a0 This understanding that the Kingdom of Heaven is really here, now, is a tremendous gift that Quakers offer the world.\u00a0 If we\u2019re really on our game, we show them this.\u00a0 We join with others in building the beloved community.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can take these offerings for granted. They may come too easily to us. We need to remember them when we feel like cowering or just sheltering in place. Nevertheless, we mustn\u2019t be shy or withdrawn. We have things to offer \u2013 to one another, to our neighbors, to Mainers, to Americans, to the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have much to offer.\u00a0 Let us be generous.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[The full message is available on Riverview Friend<\/a>.] <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Most of us are living a closed-in, closed-down life. We\u2019re waiting for this strange time to pass. And by \u2018strange time\u2019 I certainly mean the pandemic, but I mean more than that: I mean what\u2019s been unleashed in public life … Continue reading