I thought this was a valuable article.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Lessons from Native Alaskans
Today I had the wonderful privilege of hearing a young man who is a park ranger and an Alaskan Native speak about Sitka, Alaska and his people who have been here for 10,000 years. He was an exceptional communicator. His passion for his heritage and sharing drew me to hang on his every word. When he was trying to convey a concept he would use a story that immediately got his point across.
One of the images of the Tlinglit culture is the potlatch. When someone dies many people come to offer comfort to the family through a hug, bringing gifts of food, just being with them and other forms of comfort. A year after that family member has died - they gather as much as they can in the way of gifts. When they have enough gifts they then have a potlatch and invite everyone who offered any form of comfort at the time of their relatives death. At the potlatch each person that has been invited comes forward and the comfort they offered at the time of the family member's death is remembered with some image (your hug felt like a great warm coat of comfort around me) and then a gift is given to them.
The idea of a potlatch is to give away all that you have. To empty yourself to those who have been kind to you with a gift and a word of what their gesture of comfort meant. Think about that in contrast to how we are in our american culture. The goal of many lives is to get as much as we possibly can and then to keep it for ourselves.
It seems to me that the potlatch is certainly a lot closer to the model that Jesus gave us when he totally emptied himself for us. We are called to be for the world Christ's presence. How is that possible if we have our hands so full acquiring worldly possessions? When our hands are full grabbing all we can we don't even have ourselves open for God's blessings to flow in to our lives.
I pray I can be more like a potlatch and empty myself for God. I have a long way to travel but with God all things are possible.
One of the images of the Tlinglit culture is the potlatch. When someone dies many people come to offer comfort to the family through a hug, bringing gifts of food, just being with them and other forms of comfort. A year after that family member has died - they gather as much as they can in the way of gifts. When they have enough gifts they then have a potlatch and invite everyone who offered any form of comfort at the time of their relatives death. At the potlatch each person that has been invited comes forward and the comfort they offered at the time of the family member's death is remembered with some image (your hug felt like a great warm coat of comfort around me) and then a gift is given to them.
The idea of a potlatch is to give away all that you have. To empty yourself to those who have been kind to you with a gift and a word of what their gesture of comfort meant. Think about that in contrast to how we are in our american culture. The goal of many lives is to get as much as we possibly can and then to keep it for ourselves.
It seems to me that the potlatch is certainly a lot closer to the model that Jesus gave us when he totally emptied himself for us. We are called to be for the world Christ's presence. How is that possible if we have our hands so full acquiring worldly possessions? When our hands are full grabbing all we can we don't even have ourselves open for God's blessings to flow in to our lives.
I pray I can be more like a potlatch and empty myself for God. I have a long way to travel but with God all things are possible.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Community According to Starbucks
My husband and I have a strong relationship with our neighborhood Starbucks. We go for the coffee but more for the relationships with those who work there and frequent the coffee shop. I enjoy getting to know everyone. Our Starbucks knows us as a clergy couple, I am the preacher lady and he is the preacher lady's husband. The drink I order is unique and they call it a "Leila".
We frequent the shop in a variety of ways: together, separately, separately buying coffee for the other, one in the drive-thru and one in the shop at the same time... What strikes me is that they keep track of us. If I come in and my husband has been in they will tell me when they saw him and I am sure they would tell me what he bought if I asked. If my husband has not been in they will check to see if I need to get him his drink. I travel often and they keep track of that as well and welcome me back - asking my husband when I will return.
On the other side we keep track of those who work there and ask in concern if we haven't seen someone. It occurred to me today as I left there that they are a wonderful example of community. People who come together around a common interest (buying and selling coffee) and then get to know one another and care for one another. If I am not around for awhile they will be concerned, when one of the barista's talks about her future I listen and inquire as appropriate. Community.
Jon and I have a lot of fun with our Starbucks and I really miss seeing them when I am out of town. I do believe I see Glimpses of the Kingdom of God in my neighborhood Starbucks.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
School for Congregational Development - 2010 - Nashville
Attending SCD has been a mixture of learning, inspiration and connecting with old and new friends and colleagues. So far my biggest take away is the importance for our churches, pastors, and conferences to develop a plan to make disciples for Jesus Christ. INTENTIONALITY and ACCOUNTABILITY.
My daughter Ashley took Tae Kwon Do with her father. I remember they were taught a mantra related to this: make a plan, work your plan, evaluate your plan and start it all over again. Without a plan we quickly go nowhere and do nothing. I can sit in my office and without making a list either in my head or on paper, I can quickly arrive at the end of the day and realize I have gotten nothing of significance done.
Why is it then that we would think that making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world should be any different? I am coming to understand that it is far better to plan, attempt and fail than to have no plan at all and get nothing done.
I also know in my own life how difficult it is to stick with a plan if I am not accountable to someone. Accountability is something I am working on in my personal life as well as professional. My hope and prayer is that as I return to Alaska I can connect our churches to God's vision for them and by using intentionality and accountability we can all see more and more glimpses of the Kingdom of God.
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