(Quest)ions

Last week one of my church members introduced me to one of her friends--a guy in his mid-twenties who described himself to me as a "seeker." He grew up in a church but now finds himself questioning the religious beliefs he was taught. He told me about some of the issues and ideas with which he was struggling and he described to me a church where questions like his were not welcome.

When I was 12 years old, I went through Confirmation Class at the Meadowbrook United Methodist Church in Gladstone, Missouri. One Sunday evening, during class, the tornado sirens went off and our pastor had us take shelter in the basement. While we were downstairs waiting for the storm to pass, I asked the pastor, "If God is good, why does he allow bad things like tornados to happen?" I don't remember the pastor's answer but I do remember that he received my question with grace and with respect. That experience was significant for me as it invited me into a way of faith that isn't about having a checklist of right answers but having a relationship with Jesus that values honesty and authenticity.

If you look carefully at the New Testament gospels, you will see that Jesus sometimes asked questions as a way to teach his disciples and as a way to get them to look inside themselves for a deeper truth.

"Simon, do you love me?"
"Do you want to be made well?"
"Where are we to buy bread for all of these people to eat?"
"Who do you say that I am?"
"What are you looking for?"

Jesus didn't seem to have a problem with questions. Maybe those of us in the church need to follow his lead on this...?

Memorial Day

Mention "Memorial Day" and some folks think about a long weekend, BBQs, golf, the first unofficial day of summer. Me--I think about foil covered coffee cans with big pink peonies. I think about trips with my parents to the cemetery to place flowers on the graves of my grandparents and other loved ones. I know lots of people who don't like cemeteries--who tell me they don't go to funerals or to cemeteries because it's "too depressing." But me, I cherish those Memorial Day trips to the cemetery. They've been a time to remember--rejoice--and reflect on the people whose lives have made an eternal imprint on my life--Grandmothers who taught me about faith and cooking and Grandfathers who taught me to love the land and to read the Bible out loud.

I also like seeing the name "Rapp" on a headstone. It makes me think about how I'm living this one "wild and precious" life that I've been given. It reminds me to number my days and look at my life through the lens of eternity.

In 2003, the Kansas Health Foundation published a calendar that had this story on it: "On a day when the snow drifted high around our farmhouse, my teacher, who lived with my family during the winter, had me follow her to the one-room schoolhouse so I could walk safely in her tracks. I often think about the life trail I'm leaving for others and wonder who is following in my tracks."

This Memorial Day, I'll be thanking God for the "life trail" that people have made for me along the way and I'll be thinking about what "life trail" I'm leaving for others...

Why "Alternative Wisdom"?

Theologian Marcus Borg uses the expression "alternative wisdom" as a counter to "conventional wisdom." (Buy his books and read them--all of them--because my explanation of what he says will fall very, very short.)

Conventional wisdom says "Look out for number one."
Alternative wisdom says, "Seek first the Kingdom of God."

Conventional wisdom says, "If someone hurts you, get even."
Alternative wisdom says, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."

Conventional wisdom says, "Be afraid of anyone who is different than you are."
Alternative wisdom says, "Variety in creation is God's gift to us."

Conventional wisdom says, "Be good now for the sake of heaven later."
Alternative wisdom says, "Be good now because the joy of eternal life begins right now!"

Conventional wisdom says, "God is a cosmic Santa Clause who rewards those who are "nice" and punishes those who are "naughty."
Alternative wisdom says, "The God who created us, knows our great capacity to do good AND to do evil and, by grace, loves us, forgives us and sets us free to love and be loved."

Alternative is different...oftentimes a minority opinion/point of view. To embrace alternative wisdom is joyful, challenging, sometimes lonely and always amazing.