Davison's Doodle

Lent: day 36 devotion

What are you noticing about yourself and your spirituality as Lent comes to an end?

I’ve noticed . . .

I have a lot of work to do on myself and my discipleship as a follower of Jesus.

I’m not as fragile as the Christianity or Christian ministry to which I am ordained, but I’m not as tough in faith as some of my colleagues in the trenches of congregational life.

The metanarrative of my belief in God remains more a gracious orthopraxy than a gracious orthodoxy. These words from Hospitaller in the film, “Kingdom of Heaven” help me recalibrate my compass.

I put no stock in religion. By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will of God. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves, and goodness. What God desires is here [points to head] and here [points to heart] and what you decide to do every day, you will be a good man – or not.

Ridley Scott, William Monahan. “Kingdom of Heaven” (Twentieth Century Fox) 2005.

There remains a uniqueness to my denominational brand of Christian witness, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and it’s ethos about a life of Christian faith that is best distilled in the words of Ronald E. Osborn.

What do we mean by the Disciples mind? It is a way of approaching the Scriptures with a reverent intelligence. This style of professing Christian faith has accepted the reproach of advocating a “head religion” hurled by those who profess a “heart religion.” Emphasizing faith with understanding, the Disciples mind puts the highest premium on rationality and faithfulness in action.

Ronald E. Osborn, “The Disciples Mind.” Chalice Hymnal (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 1996), 553.

I’ve noticed that Carrie Newcomer reminds me that in pandemic time, restructure, and especially when shaking off being comfortably numb, “You Can Do This Hard Thing.”

That’s my lent. You?

Lent: day 35 devotion

intercession: an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person.
a prayer to God on behalf of another. 

Write an intercessory prayer and send it to someone that needs your attention and your prayer today.

The wilderness is full of competing voices for attention that your whisper, O Lord, is often drowned out even to the most discerning ears. The winds, earthquakes, fires, and floods that are real, metaphorical, and meme dampen the heart, ear, and humanity. Today, I pray for the devout, the lukewarm, the skeptic, and the non-believer.

There is plenty of evidence perpetrated by the religious, in the name of the divine, for the non-believer to reference as the basis of their non-belief, distrust, or fear of someone who comes in the name of the lord. Give them eyes to see your image in the helpers. Give them the ears to hear your call to be known. Give them peace to do the next right thing.

There is plenty of evidence for the skeptic and lukewarm to simply stay on their current path. It is what it is. Some tragedy or crisis can shock the system to be more devout or move away. Give them the mind’s eye to mature in their beliefs and faith based actions when the world turns upside down or when activists challenge their perspective. Give them the ears to hear your call to be known. Give them peace to do the next right thing.

There is plenty of evidence for the devout to want to divorce the world or convict the world in the name of the divine. Give them the eyes and ears to sift tradition, dogmatic faith, and certainty about your kingdom on earth from your call and your voice to create a kingdom on earth in the name of the lord. Give them the ears to hear your call to be known. Give them peace to do the next right thing as G*d gives them to see or hear the right.

Divine presence.

Great spirit.

Theory of science.

Artisan of life.

Listen and act in our listening and action.

Amen.