Who doesn’t want gifts?
The Day of Pentecost might not be the first day you think of in connection with gifts, and that’s okay because in the end, I didn’t really preach about gifts as much as inclusion.
I was reading a post from Diana Butler Bass’ excellent substack (https://dianabutlerbass.substack.com/ if you want to look her up) where she focused on the word “all” in the Pentecost readings. The more I reflected on what she wrote, the more I found myself gravitating to the same notion. I must confess I didn’t have everything straight and tidy in my head, so the message isn’t as straight and tidy as it might be. Nonetheless, I hope some part of it speaks to you.
As always, let me know what you think as you are inclined and able.
Blessings,
Thank you vey much for your words today Barry. That is something I have grappled with—-how is it that there are people who do good, kind things and yet don’t call themselves Christians. How could we read those texts and not notice the “all” of the outpouring of the Spirit. Most of my life I’ve had women friends within the church. About a month ago I met a woman who was on the sidewalk taking pictures of the building as I came out. She was looking through the area on behalf of a friend who has to move because her apparent doesn’t have an elevator and she is having trouble with the stairs to do laundry. She had noticed the redevelopment sign and thought it wouldn’t be wise for her friend to move here and then have to move again but thought it looked like a very nice building. There’s a “suite for rent” sign one the lawn. To the horror of my children, I invited her to come up and see my apartment! We exchanged names, e-mails etc and have gotten together 3 times now. We have things in common—she loves to read is just one of them. She noticed the book “Personal Librarian” on my table and said she has read it and also “Two Trees Make a Forest” and got it from the library and read it already. At one of those first get-togethers we talked about the news and all that is happening in the world and I said, something to the effect, God is my rock, and she just said, I’m not a believer” and the conversation went on. At that first meeting she said she wanted to keep in touch. She’s divorced, but kept her husband’s name which is German Mennonite (which is another bit of connection). She just celebrated her 80th birthday. She gets together once a month with 5 other women to discuss politics. She is a great walker and is interested (and maybe curious) about how I am out and about at 97. And so I pray every day. When we get together or e-mail, or talk on the phone I have no idea where the conversation will go, but the Lord reminds me to just be myself and to be honest. I know it wasn’t just a “chance” meeting. I want to enjoy this friendship and recognize the Spirit’s prompting.