The Meandering Travelogue of an Ordinary Wayfarer

Our Higher Calling

todkvogt — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:51:02 +0000

Two days ago the news broke that Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. Navy S.E.A.L.S. Immediately Americans began rejoicing. Today the news was reporting a renewed sense of patriotism across the U.S. that transcends the partisan politics which normally characterizes the public arena. Strong associations have been made between bin Laden’s death and closure for families of 9/11 victims. In the midst of the jubilation, back-slapping and choruses of the Star-spangled Banner I find myself strangely saddened by the whole series of events.

To be sure, if in fact bin Laden is dead, I am grateful that whatever evil and destruction he would have unleashed on the world has been stopped or at least delayed and made more complicated to achieve. I certainly do not want to return to the weeks and months after 9/11 when Americans and Westerners of many nationalities were forced to live in fear of seemingly random acts of terror. If bin Laden’s death achieves for many nations and ethnic groups an increased measure of security, then there is cause for some measure of gratitude. Gratitude not celebration.

Without taking anything from my statements above, for they are thoroughly genuine, I am disturbed by the celebratory posture bin Laden’s death has birthed. I am disturbed both as an American and as a Christian. As an American, I believe deeply that woven deep into our national identity is the idea that every person regardless of race, gender, religion, country of origin or any other social distinction is due fundamental respect. Additionally, while the U.S. has and does live out of some of our baser human instincts occasionally, as much as any country we want to live out of higher instincts. We must treat others around the world better than they treat us. We must respect their right to disrespect us. We must defend their right to detest our freedom. It is the irony of defending hated freedom that the very best of America is expressed. It is one of the few ways we can truly be better than other nations. If we allow ourselves the base temptation to gloat, we invalidate the high and noble purpose that is America. Those who would suggest that because bin Laden would not have respected Americans enough to give them a Christian burial he should have been denied a Muslim burial have missed the nobility of what is America. It is because we respect our enemy enough to honor his faith and give him a proper burial that America can be proud. We must not be proud that we killed an enemy. We can be proud that though he was an enemy, we gave him fundamental respect in his death.

I am also disturbed as a Christian by my fellow believers who seem to easily join in the celebration at bin Laden’s death. Writing this, I must confess that I am disturbed at my own tendency to rejoice. How can we who embrace the Scriptures so easily forget passages like:

Proverbs 24:17 – Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice.
Ezekiel 33:11 – As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live.
Matthew 5:44 – I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

As Christians we are called to be those who live for the redemption of the world, who live to support life and peace. While our complicated world frequently puts us in impossible moral positions, for which we all hope there is much grace, we must be careful to not promote a nationalism, or worse an imperialism that would thoroughly undermine our primary role as peddlers of divine reconciliation.

While bin Laden’s death may offer us a bit of reprieve from our security concerns, his death reminds us that we are still in a broken, violent and deeply flawed world in desperate need of a new way. That way will not be paved by Navy S.E.A.L.S. but by Christ being embodied by millions of His people. If we are to rejoice, let us rejoice that Christ still lives and so we still have hope.

Easter Prayer 2010

todkvogt — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:01:53 +0000

Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.

Give us all a reverance for the earth as your own creations, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.

We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

-Christ Church Plano, Easter Sunday 2010

Inspiration

todkvogt — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:02:30 +0000

I was listening to a podcast on CoachVille Caffeine a couple of weeks ago during which the speaker, Dave Buck (http://www.coachblog.com/?p=139 ), made the assertion that we are seeing the end of the “economy of industry” and the “economy of information” and the rise of an “economy of inspiration.” By the economy of industry he was referring to the economy that is driving by mass production and consumerism. In Buck’s analysis, the economy of Information in which we have been operating for several decades is rooted in knowledge, mass media and technology. He indicated that he has noticed among his network that people are less driven to buy more stuff and less motivated by mass media hype and increasingly drawn to whatever bring inspiration. Since listening to the podcast, I have been reflecting on the implications of this idea, if in fact it holds some truth, not the economic implications but the implications for people of faith.

If there is some truth in his assertion, that the American public is increasingly attracted to whatever inspires them, this holds both promise and challenge to the church for which inspiration is the fuel. The challenge will be to embody the Message in fresh and intriguing ways that inspire to an often jaded community (remember that in this context what is inspiring is entirely in the eye of the beholder). This is not a call to manufacture new messages or dilute the often hard-hitting Message of Christ but to live, think, act and speak the Message in creative and surprising ways, ways that re-capture the imagination of a culture dulled by abundant sensationalism.

Another challenge will be to contrast the authentic inspiration (i.e. the Presence of the Spirit of God) (here I am using the Latin derivation meaning to take in the spirit) with the more pedestrian inspiration for sale from every Hallmark store and self-help guru. The challenge for the church will be to highlight the contrasts without sacrificing respect for diversity or capitulating to an inspiration that offers momentary ease but lacks the transcendence to inspire for a lifetime and beyond.

Perhaps what Buck is noticing is the natural reaction to indulgence. After long periods of indulging on anything (food, TV, shopping, etc.) most of us develop an aversion, one that may last a lifetime. Perhaps American culture is losing its taste for self-indulgence and developing a hunger for meaning. Is that what is driving the increasing commitment to responsible environmental living? Is that why college students are volunteering at a record rate? Is that at the root of the increased interest in all things spiritual (Christian and otherwise)?

If we are noticing the initial indications of a shift from an industrial or information economy to an inspirational economy, the church may once again have an opportunity to speak into our North American culture. We may have a chance to let the Good News really be good; to really be the life-giving, freedom-bestowing inspiring news that one time captured the imagination of nations. May it be so.

a memorable conversation

todkvogt — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:06:19 +0000

Wow! My wife and I just had one of those rare conversations about life and faith with our daughter. God has blessed us with a remarkably sensitive and spiritually insightful daughter. Faith is developing. She is drawing very close to making the decision to commit her life to Christ. We are prayerful.

Gratitude

todkvogt — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:09:47 +0000

been thinking about how richly blessed I am…great wife, great kids, great friends, like our house, neighborhood, love our work/ministry…with all that is wrong in the world…I am truly grateful for how blessed I am…It is good sometime to dwell on what is right, don’t you think? (Does this sound just too sappy? I don’t care. There is enough cynicism. I like gratitude!)

Contemplative Retreat – Day 6

todkvogt — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:07:33 +0000

It is Sunday afternoon at abut 4pm. We have been observing silence since last evening at 7:30pm. It has been surprisingly nice. I have not listened to music (even for meditation). I have had 2 phone calls with the fam. Candace and the kids were traveling to Okla. to help my mom pack. Hannah spent Fri/Sat at Winterfest so I had to get the low-down on what all happened. I walked to a near-by pizzaria and had lunch. I spoke briefly to the girl at the counter and watched CNN while I ate. I asked one of the other Shalem associates where the laundry is. Otherwise, I have been observing silence since last evening. We will have a prayer service tonight. I supect we will have some talking during it. We will break our silence tomorrow morning at about 9am. Our world could use some more silence.

Contemplation Retreat – Day 5 – cont.

todkvogt — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:52:08 +0000

It is about 9:30pm and two hours ago we entered into our 36 hr Silent Sabbath in hopes of giving God the interior space to speak to us deeply without crowding it out with incessant talking. I just took a walk to the closest grocery store, a round-trip hike of about 2 miles through the charming main street of Emmitsburg, MD. The main street is a Normal Rockwell painting come to life with houses built right up on the street, street lights, porches and beautifully adorned with just a whisper of snow. To make it better there were just a few delicate snowflakes falling, visible only in the streetlights. It was cold but well worth it.

I got a bottle of water, 2 packages of M&M peanuts & the weekend edition of USA Today. Now, before you wonder if reading the newspaper goes against the spirit of a Silent Sabbath let me say that before, during and after reading the paper I will be in prayer (I have a prayer partner named Kate from Xenia, OH), in meditation on spirituality and sexuality and doing laundry. Remember, Brother Lawrance said that you could be in the Presence of God doing the dishes or pulling weeds. Why not reading the paper? You may be wondering why such an unusual meditation for the weekend. Quite simply because that is one of the assignments for our time of quite. The main seminar on Monday will be addressing that topic and this is our way of preparing for it.

I had the distinct pleasure of spending about 15-20 private minutes with Tilden Edwards. After the afternoon session most everyone went to dinner but since he was not staying for dinner he offered to stay and visit with anyone with a particular questions. Four of us stayed. Not that I had a question, I didn’t, but I just wanted to hear his replies to the other questions. Once everyone’s question was answered they left. I was about to leave but he engaged me and we had a very encouraging conversation. Of course he connected me with Randy Harris and Jackie Halstead at ACU who have (or are) completing the same program. After that though, we talked about how there seems to be a broad shift in American Christianity that is leading many groups toward a more contemplative orientation. He struck me as a wise and gentle man. It was a unique blessing.

Contemplative Retreat – Day 5

todkvogt — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:59:40 +0000

I will write more later but I just had a revelation. We are staying in a convent that has had one wing converted into a retreat center. We are eating in their caffeteria. I think I understand one of the many ways the nuns are expected to suffer. They must go without seasoning on their food. In fact, in some cases they have to go without taste too. That being said, we have had plenty to eat with soup, salad and one or two entrees at each meal. The problem comes when it all tastes the same. As I sat down at the computer I smelled the hot dogs we had for dinner. And then I smelled them again. The third time I smelled them I sniffed my hands to see if they smelled of hot dogs. They didn’t. The I picked up the cup of decaf I brought to my room and ‘lo and behold’ there is the source of the hot dog smell. My cup of decaf. Kind of makes you wonder, if my coffee smells like hot dogs, what does the milk smell like.

Contemplative Retreat – Day 4

todkvogt — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:43:16 +0000

There seems to be a philosophical orientation here at Shalem that assumes that infants in their purity are naturally closer to God than adults after all of the acculturation, language acquition and moral categories that develop as one grows older. This has come out in a couple of ways. First, Bill D.’s explanation of Contemplative suggested that we need to gaze upon God like an infant gazes at an adult when first born; simply, without words, without judgement, just there. Second, Ginny N. this evening presented a seminar on Journaling through Art. She had examples of children’s elementary school artwork. Her explanation was that we need to get in touch with our concept of God before we developed language and then color or draw whatever that brings up from our earliest awareness of God.

The idea that cultural categories and language inherently corrupt a pure relationship with God seems at odds with the way God appears to reveal himself in Scripture. Rather than opting for some nebulous, non-specific manifestation of himself, God elected to reveal himself through human language and in human categories. Furthermore, he chose to incarnate himself, take on flesh, take on human limitations, categories, descriptions (very specific ones). It seems that God is all the more glorified because he bridged the gap into the human realm of the knowing rather than remaining transcendant and unknowable.

That being said, it seems obvious to me that sometimes we can become arrogant with our language and use it to attempt to dominate God. That is, define him and describe him in limiting detail. As if once we conclude that God is, for example, omnicient we have figured him out and are ready to move on. How ludicrous! Because of such a temptation to exhaust volumns describing God, Contemplation is a wonderful practice of letting ourselves reside in him, at peace, in oneness without the need to analyze. Yet, reverting to our infant-selves is not necessary.

Spiritual Direction Residency

todkvogt — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:21:11 +0000

Today is the 3rd day of our retreat. This morning Rose Mary Doughtery guided us through thoughts concerning the intersection between Scripture and Prayer. What a remarkably gentle and thoughtful person, not to mention her subtle sense of humor. It was a quiet morning of listening; first to Rose Mary and then to Matthew 5:8.

After presenting a number of ideas Rose Mary sent us out to practice Lectio Divina with a passage of our choosing. I have been living with Mt 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” for about a month, since my backpacking trip in Dec. At first it was hard to quite my spirit and my mind. I was receiving the spiritual practice as another task to occupy me. After a few minutes of my mind and heart wandering around this Beatitude came to me as a chant. I began silently chanting this in my heart, over and over. I found that it settled my frazzled-ness and helped me focus, like a centering prayer. Like watching the wind gently move a flower over and over, I felt like this chant was gently taking me back to the same place over and over and yet it was not boring or didn’t feel repetitive. After some time it occured to me that Jesus’ words sounded like they were for someone else and I needed to hear him speaking them to me. As soon as that thought occured to me, I realized how that would come out and I hesitated. I was not sure I wanted to allow myself to utter such words, “Blessed am I, pure of heart for I will see God.” But, I didn’t know what else to do so I slowly allowed my heart to form those words. Soon they became a chant. The more I chanted them, the more right they sounded.

Is that how Jesus feels about me? Does he see me as pure in heart? Am I the one who cannot see it? My fear is that these questions would reveal an arrogance in my, yet I don’t feel as if they are spoken in arrogance.

Lord Jesus, give me peace about how you see me. By your sacrifice may I, in fact, BE pure in heart.