Lessons

I came into a situation to which I was called.  I came with the understanding that it was my calling to serve, and I did.  I served with the love of God in my heart the children and adults in the community of my service.  But, I also came into a situation where I was abused both by the people with whom I had contracted to perform the service and by my direct supervisor.  I was lied to, belittled, and told my work was not worthy even though I knew it was.  I was threatened with loss of livelihood if I did not make social connections that were required of no one else in my position and threatened with loss of livelihood if I spoke with my contractual and legal representatives.  I was made promises that were never meant to be kept that resulted in material loss and discomfort.

Through all this I thought it was my duty to bear the abuse and indignities as part of my faith in the one to whom I owe my life.  In a way it was, but I didn’t do it very well.  My feelings were hurt by the treatment I received.  I spoke out against those from whom the abuse flowed.  Feeling that my treatment was unjustified I spoke to them in anger and bitterness.  I attempted to pressure these people into doing the “right thing.”  I was unsuccessful and resentment developed.

It is difficult to feel love and charity for those against whom resentment is held and those for whom there is no trust.  But I would try.  I would forgive them and consider it my duty to bear these things as mentioned above and then it would happen again and the resentment and hurt would reappear.  Each time would be worse than the last because I felt it had a cumulative effect.

It is happening again now and the cycle began to repeat itself.  Then one of the individuals in question said something to me that took a while to work its way into my soul.  I was asked if my faith in God did not instruct me to also have faith in others even when they have demonstrated faithlessness.  My immediate answer was no, it did not.  My immediate answer was that if I pick up a snake and it bites me then I am under no obligation to pick it up again.  It would be an act of foolishness to do so.  My immediate thought was that my faith in God DOES instruct me that a tree does not bear both good and bad fruit.  If I bite into a piece of fruit and find it bad then it would be insanity to pick another fruit from the same tree and bite into it thinking that it would be good this time.

Twelve Step groups teach their adherents that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different consequences.

But I prayed and meditated on the matter for quite a while afterward, and it was here that the lesson started to clarify itself.  I believe it is the lesson that was originally intended for me to learn when I was called into this place over a year ago.

I am not called to be naive.  I am not called to believe that those who have proved themselves untrustworthy time after time are suddenly going to become worthy of trust especially when they make excuses, denials, shift the blame, and generally express no regret for prior words and deeds.  But, I AM called to love them regardless.

I am called to feel compassion for those who have sinned.  I am instructed to pray for them.  I am told by the spirit to intercede on their behalf.  If they hold positions of power over me and I am abused by their words and actions, then it is still my duty to forgive them and hold no resentment towards them for their behaviors.

This is very hard, people!  Even if you do not believe in the divinity of Jesus, the one who is called Christ, the record shows that during his torture and even up to the moment of his death he forgave and interceded for those who beat, whipped, and nailed him to a tree to die.  I am not Jesus.  I try to emulate him, but fall short very often.

If he was who he said he was, then he alone of all the people in the earth before, during, and after that time had every reason to object to being humiliated, physically tortured and finally executed just for saying who he said he was.  He had every reason to exhibit his pride and dignity as the self-proclaimed Son of God, but instead, out of love, he allowed himself to be abused, defiled, and finally killed.  He went to his death interceding with God for the forgiveness of those who brought about his death.

I don’t know if I could do that, do you?  I think I am a lot closer to being able to that today than I was yesterday, though.

That is my lesson.  Like I said I am not Christ and no one is seeking to kill me.  I am called nonetheless to love and forgive those who would say things and commit actions that bring me hurt and loss of material comfort.  I don’t expect it to be easy.  It is difficult to break old habits.  However I believe it to be at least one if not the most important lesson I was called here to learn.  My sacrifices and indignities are vastly unimportant and petty compared to the sacrifice made for me.

Through all adversity, love one another.

Gryphon

United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church

I was less than 5 years old when I began going to church.  The church I attended was a Methodist one.  There was no “United” Methodist Church back then (shortly after Martin Luther posted his love note to the Catholics).  I don’t recall when they became united.  They didn’t bother to ask for my opinion or even inform me of the change.  I didn’t get my feelings hurt.  This happens a lot.  For example, did you know that there is no “Bombay”, India any more?  That’s right.  They changed it to “Mumbai.”  I didn’t even get a memo.

But that’s not why you called.

I went to the Methodist church because it was within walking distance and my mother felt like I needed church.  She was right.  She has never been wrong.  Bank on it.  When I was 11 I was baptized by the Methodists.  I didn’t continue going very much longer.  I became interested in cigarettes and marijuana and started down THAT wrong road.  But I still was spiritual in my way.  It was during the seventies and there was a thing called the “Jesus Movement” that had a lot to do with evangelism and charismatic churches.  I went to a pentecostal church for a while.  When I entered my twenties I began to realize that I needed a religious foundation again and tried the Baptists and even thought about Catholicism for a short while, going so far as to attend catechism classes.  But there were certain things I just couldn’t wrap my head around with the Caths.

So I went back to the Methodists.  It felt and feels like home.  I find the most spiritual peace in a Methodist congregation.  I reccomend them.

By the way,  just did a spell check–it recognizes “Bombay” but NOT “Mumbai.”  Huh?  Am I right or am I right?

The United Methodist Church is linked in this post and in my blogroll.

Here’s a little something from them:

Why does the church exist? “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Mat. 28:19-20).

Based on this “Great Commission,” our United Methodist Church has stated its purpose: “The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs”

So the mission of our congregation is to make disciples. This is a four-fold task….We could abbreviate our mission as one of welcoming-worshiping-nurturing-sending.

We reach out to people and welcome them into the church

We relate people to God and help them deepen their relationship with God

We nurture people in Christian living

We support people in their ministry

Methodists in Mission

The United Methodist faith is deeply rooted in the Scripture and in the basic beliefs of all Christians. Out of that theology and the faith have grown some specific actions that mark United Methodists as Christians engaged in ministry to the world. The early members of the groups that eventually became The United Methodist Church

• took strong stands on issues such as slavery, smuggling, and humane treatment of prisoners;
• established institutions for higher learning;
• started hospitals and shelters for children and the elderly;
• founded Goodwill Industries in 1902;
• became actively involved in efforts for world peace;
• adopted a Social Creed and Social Principles to guide them as they relate to God’s world and God’s people;
• participated with other religious groups in ecumenical efforts to be in mission.

Disciples of Christ

New link here and in blogroll:  Disciples of Christ.

According to the Disciples’ website.

The church is identified with the Protestant “mainstream” and is widely involved in social and other concerns. Disciples have supported vigorously world and national programs of education, agricultural assistance, racial reconciliation, care of the developmentally disabled and aid to victims of war and calamity.

The denomination now counts about 700,000 members in the United States and Canada in about 3,700 congregations. Numerically, the strength of the Disciples of Christ runs in a broad arc that sweeps from Ohio and Kentucky through the Midwest and down into Oklahoma and Texas.

And They Thank You For Your Support.

No Qualifiers

God is Jesus.

Jesus is God.

The Holy Spirit is both of them.

Unequivocally.

I also believe in the Devil.

HA!  There!  I said it!

c.e.s.