Still pondering this one, and I read it Sunday and re-read it today.
Life is processional. Life is change.. Life is unpredictable. These truths I know/believe to be universal...on any plane/in any realm they are examined from.
And I'm good with (as in accept) all that.
However, I'm still wondering where and how blanket statements like those cited in the week's Musings can be made for the 7.99 billion souls currently residing on Earth; where resources are getting scarcer and scarcer (and therefore more dear); where pelf, lucre and greed are the usual/standard metrics for gaging success (no matter where these souls reside or what form their version of "success" takes)...while at the same time, every religion and culture praises preaches Jesus's "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"; and where words like "abundance" and "need" and "enough" are both subjective and objective measures for our worldly and spiritual lives.
This was masterful. Thank you. You don't let us weasel our way out of holding wealth at bay. I'm thankful that I can seek wisdom more than wealth. This is always present to us. Praise God.
Was Joseph a carpenter, or might he have been a stone mason? Anyway. I think the guy's problem was that he was too self sure of himself. Jame would have taken him down (James 4: 13 - 16, 17).
Diana, I appreciate this reflection. This Gospel passage came to my mind some years ago when I was wrestling with the large amount in my IRA, not ready to give it all away at once (partly for my aging needs, partly not wanting to pay high taxes because so much go to warmaking), yet wanting somehow for those in need to access it. I was very moved by Ched Myers' article on this Gospel passage (Sojourners Magazine, Dec 2009). As a result I found an investment group (Natural Investments) that is dedicated to helping folks shift their investments toward an equitable and regenerative economy. So for some years now, a large portion of the IRA investments in my "barn" are in community investments (the rest in renewable energy) and my "barn doors" have been open, so that those in need can go in, borrow, go out and create micro-credit, small businesses, etc, and then go back and leave the principal with small interest. And my beneficiary if there is money left when I die is Beyond Borders whose work of empowering communities in Haiti I have supported for many, many years.
When you commented about part of you rooting for the rich man and the wisdom of preparing for the future, I thought about the parable of the talents. Surely modern-day "rich men" might see it as Jesus endorsing getting the maximum return on one's investment! I cannot imagine that being Jesus' intent (in the sense of wealth for wealth's sake). I can only imagine that there are many sermons comparing these two parables... What you have added here is your wisdom reminding us that Jesus was poor and how he ministered to the poor. Thank you for that! Now to apply it to ideas about wealth - that calls for more pondering.
I think that I'm usually kind of agnostic but I'm concerned with living a good life - an abundant life.
I often ask myself:
If I died today, what would I regret not doing. It sure isn't accumulating wealth. The answer: giving people suffering pain the message that they can understand pain and find a cure for it. It's simple, clear-cut.
I respect that Jesus' words make sense - your worth isn't defined by how much wealth you have or your achievement. Believing otherwise is foolish and actually causes pain.
But I have one point of contention. I have been poor. In that, no one paid any attention, I went hungry for days, no-one looked at me twice, I couldn't pursue my hobbies or employ my talents. So this is where I find Jesus too demanding (I wish I could have a good and cold analysis of this with someone - I might be lacking some perspective here).
The dilemma is this
Poverty seems to render one inactive (powerless). Resources can help you exploit your talents, a familiar exhortation from Jesus. I've tried poverty and it was really unappealing - there was no abundance in it. But I feel I'm missing something here. Socrates lived a life he was proud of and he was poor.
I belong to a wonderfully eclectic church, Galileo Church, in Fort Worth, Texas. One of the precepts is, in an economics sense: Have enough. Then do good with the rest.
I think of the "too-Much-in our North America likethe silos of the rich fool. Instead of taking extra clothing to a thrift shop for others to use, give money in Church envelopes to give to those in need, and to "pare down" to what we use in a day or week, we find it inconvenient to taketime to give our things away. Yes, we are foolish.
Thanks for your comments on today's scripture. While I preached on those verses many times while I served as a pastor, I never saw within them with the amazing insights you gave us today. Something moves me every time I read what you send us. Today your thoughts brought more insight for me than I imagined. !
This week I'm writing about finding the "purpose" in your work. It's so interesting how your essay aligns with the theories of the management expert I interviewed for the piece. That said, it might be obvious since he centers part of his ideas from his Jewish upbringing and the concept of Tikkun olam (or 'repair the world'). More importantly, Happy Birthday!
Thank you so much for your continued efforts to help us navigate this always uncertain world. I especially want to say "Bravo!" for your commentary on Mary of Magadala. Well don! Blessings to you and continue this great work.
Still pondering this one, and I read it Sunday and re-read it today.
Life is processional. Life is change.. Life is unpredictable. These truths I know/believe to be universal...on any plane/in any realm they are examined from.
And I'm good with (as in accept) all that.
However, I'm still wondering where and how blanket statements like those cited in the week's Musings can be made for the 7.99 billion souls currently residing on Earth; where resources are getting scarcer and scarcer (and therefore more dear); where pelf, lucre and greed are the usual/standard metrics for gaging success (no matter where these souls reside or what form their version of "success" takes)...while at the same time, every religion and culture praises preaches Jesus's "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"; and where words like "abundance" and "need" and "enough" are both subjective and objective measures for our worldly and spiritual lives.
This was masterful. Thank you. You don't let us weasel our way out of holding wealth at bay. I'm thankful that I can seek wisdom more than wealth. This is always present to us. Praise God.
Thank you Diana and "almost" Happy Birthday" to The Cottage! Thank you for this reflection and teaching.
Was Joseph a carpenter, or might he have been a stone mason? Anyway. I think the guy's problem was that he was too self sure of himself. Jame would have taken him down (James 4: 13 - 16, 17).
Diana, I appreciate this reflection. This Gospel passage came to my mind some years ago when I was wrestling with the large amount in my IRA, not ready to give it all away at once (partly for my aging needs, partly not wanting to pay high taxes because so much go to warmaking), yet wanting somehow for those in need to access it. I was very moved by Ched Myers' article on this Gospel passage (Sojourners Magazine, Dec 2009). As a result I found an investment group (Natural Investments) that is dedicated to helping folks shift their investments toward an equitable and regenerative economy. So for some years now, a large portion of the IRA investments in my "barn" are in community investments (the rest in renewable energy) and my "barn doors" have been open, so that those in need can go in, borrow, go out and create micro-credit, small businesses, etc, and then go back and leave the principal with small interest. And my beneficiary if there is money left when I die is Beyond Borders whose work of empowering communities in Haiti I have supported for many, many years.
When you commented about part of you rooting for the rich man and the wisdom of preparing for the future, I thought about the parable of the talents. Surely modern-day "rich men" might see it as Jesus endorsing getting the maximum return on one's investment! I cannot imagine that being Jesus' intent (in the sense of wealth for wealth's sake). I can only imagine that there are many sermons comparing these two parables... What you have added here is your wisdom reminding us that Jesus was poor and how he ministered to the poor. Thank you for that! Now to apply it to ideas about wealth - that calls for more pondering.
I think that I'm usually kind of agnostic but I'm concerned with living a good life - an abundant life.
I often ask myself:
If I died today, what would I regret not doing. It sure isn't accumulating wealth. The answer: giving people suffering pain the message that they can understand pain and find a cure for it. It's simple, clear-cut.
I respect that Jesus' words make sense - your worth isn't defined by how much wealth you have or your achievement. Believing otherwise is foolish and actually causes pain.
But I have one point of contention. I have been poor. In that, no one paid any attention, I went hungry for days, no-one looked at me twice, I couldn't pursue my hobbies or employ my talents. So this is where I find Jesus too demanding (I wish I could have a good and cold analysis of this with someone - I might be lacking some perspective here).
The dilemma is this
Poverty seems to render one inactive (powerless). Resources can help you exploit your talents, a familiar exhortation from Jesus. I've tried poverty and it was really unappealing - there was no abundance in it. But I feel I'm missing something here. Socrates lived a life he was proud of and he was poor.
I belong to a wonderfully eclectic church, Galileo Church, in Fort Worth, Texas. One of the precepts is, in an economics sense: Have enough. Then do good with the rest.
I think of the "too-Much-in our North America likethe silos of the rich fool. Instead of taking extra clothing to a thrift shop for others to use, give money in Church envelopes to give to those in need, and to "pare down" to what we use in a day or week, we find it inconvenient to taketime to give our things away. Yes, we are foolish.
Thanks for your comments on today's scripture. While I preached on those verses many times while I served as a pastor, I never saw within them with the amazing insights you gave us today. Something moves me every time I read what you send us. Today your thoughts brought more insight for me than I imagined. !
This week I'm writing about finding the "purpose" in your work. It's so interesting how your essay aligns with the theories of the management expert I interviewed for the piece. That said, it might be obvious since he centers part of his ideas from his Jewish upbringing and the concept of Tikkun olam (or 'repair the world'). More importantly, Happy Birthday!
Thank you so much for your continued efforts to help us navigate this always uncertain world. I especially want to say "Bravo!" for your commentary on Mary of Magadala. Well don! Blessings to you and continue this great work.