Some fragmented thoughts on not feeling Easter-y this year, the wisdom of Xunzi, petty men and gentlemen, the gift of ritual, and the recognition of breaking bread
Thank you for your wise writing. I really appreciate your reflections today. I am inspired to really evaluate the space and faith I live from. You’ve helped me give meaning to this holy time.
I’m not feeling very “Easter-y” either this year, for all the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for the reminder of ancient truths and the importance of showing up and nurturing my soul with ritual traditions.
Blessed Good Friday to you. Thank you for sharing this. Beyond his specific wisdom (Human nature *is* bad! And Petty men *do* bring chaos!) I find it so comforting to know that during previous falling empires, wars, and other devastations, people have been philosophizing, theologizing, praying, writing poetry and songs, planting gardens, making art, connecting with nature, etc etc. God really does move in and around and among and through us even in the worst of times. Maybe especially then. So, I will invest in the season's rituals in defiance of evil and hopefully be mended in some way. We are making a casserole and cooking a giant pile of bacon to take to the Easter brunch at church after service. 40% of our Episcopalian church parish lives alone, and many of them are elders (75+) who have no family near by; a lot of them don't drive anymore. It will be good to chant and sing pray and brunch with them.
There is joy in enjoying the beauty that surrounds us here in Cary, NC. And there is joy in cooking. Today I will make my Easter Pineapple Coconut Cake. Thanks for your inspiring words and demeanor. And thanks for talking about cooking. (I made the brisket fried rice two days ago! Delicious!!)
So thoughtful and insightful - thank you. You can hold in prayer for me that I, like you, might find a way to bridge the gap between those who are so hostile and myself, that I might recognize what we have in common. And also that I might listen more to the voice of health within me than the voice of illness..
I hear John Calvin’s ‘total depravity’ as an echo of Xunzi’s amazing words. Our goodness is a gift of relationship, given by The Holy One who dies for us and all the world. Our humanity is restored so that we may be ‘in ritual’ with heart and hand and voice. Lament then in the garden with Jesus. For all is not lost…
Some people get a little queasy when they see that phrase "total depravity"... I'd be curious to know how you understand it. For me, it's the idea that nothing in this world is untouched by sin, not that we're rotten to the core.
Thank you for your beautiful words. I studied Chinese history in college and found the texts of Confucius and the other philosophers of the general era quite boring. (I was only 19 years old at the time). Thank you for sharing the wisdom of Xunzi and tying his writing to the Gospel of Luke.
There have been many years I have arrived at church on Easter sunday in the midst of grief, while trying to grasp any tiny strand of hope. I attend an Episcopal church and the liturgy creates space for us to engage as we are able.
The current state of the world is heartbreaking and devastating. Despite everything that is wrong, I have found new hope this year as I join with members of my local faith community to resist tyranny. I seeing Jesus and the words he spoke in a new light and the faith that has been a tiny mustard seed for years is starting to grow again.
As I sat down to read your post and write this response, I decided to listen to Handel's Messiah. The Recit, "Comfort Ye My People" played. I truly hope you experience comfort and consolation in your community during this Holy weekend.
Your flowers are beautiful. In August of 2020 during a fit of rage, I went out to the parking strip in front of my house and started turning over the sod. The garden that arose from the ashes of my feelings that day is now named the rage garden. That fall I went to Costco and bought bulbs and planted them in my rage garden. Those beautiful flowers are in bloom right now and are a blessing to me and to the people who walk by my house.
I was thinking about the disciples at the end of Mark, who ran away terrified and silent; and yet we have the gospel story. I think of that pair at Emmaus, dejected in their hopeless walk, and Jesus coming beside them to walk, reveal, encourage, nourish. I think of Christians in 536 AD (no sun for 18 mo). I’m so, so grateful for Easter when little else feels like it. A bright star peeking through dark clouds.
A blessed Good Friday to you, and a joyous, nourishing Easter!
Thank you for saying so eloquently what is in the fractured hearts of so many of us these days. I, too, find myself anchored in the days leading to Easter, and even now I am more comfortable with the lamentation than the Allelujah. We witness the murder of Love not just daily, but minute by minute, it seems, but it's important to remember that Love is resurrected every day, minute by minute, through us if we are willing. I just finished reading Richard Rohr's book The Tears of Things...a big help. Bless you!
I’ve been fortifying for what’s to come. This weekend we gathered some new friends to begin a support / advocacy group to meet twice a month. We need community more than ever.
Thank you. As I sit staring at a screen and pray and try to write an Easter sermon, I needed to read what I am struggling to put into words.
Good morning from Portland Oregon.
Thank you for your wise writing. I really appreciate your reflections today. I am inspired to really evaluate the space and faith I live from. You’ve helped me give meaning to this holy time.
I’m not feeling very “Easter-y” either this year, for all the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for the reminder of ancient truths and the importance of showing up and nurturing my soul with ritual traditions.
Thank you for this Jeff! I needed it today. Happy Easter and Hosanná. 🙏🏼♥️
Blessed Good Friday to you. Thank you for sharing this. Beyond his specific wisdom (Human nature *is* bad! And Petty men *do* bring chaos!) I find it so comforting to know that during previous falling empires, wars, and other devastations, people have been philosophizing, theologizing, praying, writing poetry and songs, planting gardens, making art, connecting with nature, etc etc. God really does move in and around and among and through us even in the worst of times. Maybe especially then. So, I will invest in the season's rituals in defiance of evil and hopefully be mended in some way. We are making a casserole and cooking a giant pile of bacon to take to the Easter brunch at church after service. 40% of our Episcopalian church parish lives alone, and many of them are elders (75+) who have no family near by; a lot of them don't drive anymore. It will be good to chant and sing pray and brunch with them.
Oh, Jeff. You always have such good words and thoughts. Thank you.
There is joy in enjoying the beauty that surrounds us here in Cary, NC. And there is joy in cooking. Today I will make my Easter Pineapple Coconut Cake. Thanks for your inspiring words and demeanor. And thanks for talking about cooking. (I made the brisket fried rice two days ago! Delicious!!)
So thoughtful and insightful - thank you. You can hold in prayer for me that I, like you, might find a way to bridge the gap between those who are so hostile and myself, that I might recognize what we have in common. And also that I might listen more to the voice of health within me than the voice of illness..
I hear John Calvin’s ‘total depravity’ as an echo of Xunzi’s amazing words. Our goodness is a gift of relationship, given by The Holy One who dies for us and all the world. Our humanity is restored so that we may be ‘in ritual’ with heart and hand and voice. Lament then in the garden with Jesus. For all is not lost…
Some people get a little queasy when they see that phrase "total depravity"... I'd be curious to know how you understand it. For me, it's the idea that nothing in this world is untouched by sin, not that we're rotten to the core.
Yes!Yes!Jeff!
Hosanna. Hosanna. Much gratitude for these ancient words that fit perfectly today. Blessings from Memphis to you and Tristan.
Thank you for your beautiful words. I studied Chinese history in college and found the texts of Confucius and the other philosophers of the general era quite boring. (I was only 19 years old at the time). Thank you for sharing the wisdom of Xunzi and tying his writing to the Gospel of Luke.
There have been many years I have arrived at church on Easter sunday in the midst of grief, while trying to grasp any tiny strand of hope. I attend an Episcopal church and the liturgy creates space for us to engage as we are able.
The current state of the world is heartbreaking and devastating. Despite everything that is wrong, I have found new hope this year as I join with members of my local faith community to resist tyranny. I seeing Jesus and the words he spoke in a new light and the faith that has been a tiny mustard seed for years is starting to grow again.
As I sat down to read your post and write this response, I decided to listen to Handel's Messiah. The Recit, "Comfort Ye My People" played. I truly hope you experience comfort and consolation in your community during this Holy weekend.
Your flowers are beautiful. In August of 2020 during a fit of rage, I went out to the parking strip in front of my house and started turning over the sod. The garden that arose from the ashes of my feelings that day is now named the rage garden. That fall I went to Costco and bought bulbs and planted them in my rage garden. Those beautiful flowers are in bloom right now and are a blessing to me and to the people who walk by my house.
Pre-dread is exactly it. I did enjoy a lovely Maundy Thursday service even though I didn't really want to.
I was thinking about the disciples at the end of Mark, who ran away terrified and silent; and yet we have the gospel story. I think of that pair at Emmaus, dejected in their hopeless walk, and Jesus coming beside them to walk, reveal, encourage, nourish. I think of Christians in 536 AD (no sun for 18 mo). I’m so, so grateful for Easter when little else feels like it. A bright star peeking through dark clouds.
A blessed Good Friday to you, and a joyous, nourishing Easter!
Thank you for saying so eloquently what is in the fractured hearts of so many of us these days. I, too, find myself anchored in the days leading to Easter, and even now I am more comfortable with the lamentation than the Allelujah. We witness the murder of Love not just daily, but minute by minute, it seems, but it's important to remember that Love is resurrected every day, minute by minute, through us if we are willing. I just finished reading Richard Rohr's book The Tears of Things...a big help. Bless you!
I’ve been fortifying for what’s to come. This weekend we gathered some new friends to begin a support / advocacy group to meet twice a month. We need community more than ever.