|
Faith Flies Upward
 People who write what’s going on in the world are stressed or confused or feeling negative or positive about what is happening to American’s religious faith. They forget that faith flies upward and not down into burial holes or into the raging sea. Where is and maybe what is really faith? Is faith slipping away? Or is there a different kind of faith - You can cross the street as the light turns red - but that still won’t stop someone from not paying attention and there you are - whop, bang, alakazam - your street cross becomes a tragedy. God is not hanging around waiting to pick you out of your disaster when you did something incorrect.
Where faith has really blossomed is in Africa. The missionaries, I gather, did leave some heart and soul behind that taught them about Mungu - God - Jesus. Probably the most beautiful of the African nations who thrive on faith and religion are the people of Tanzania. I have never felt so calm and appreciated and that everyone was a Christian. The tiny church in which I was married in 1962 is packed every Sunday, so much so, they have three services. And all the people from those in Arusha or Karatu to the hikers to tourist guides are filled with the spirit of God. It so impressed me that I want to go back again to learn more. When I lived there in 1962-3, I didn’t feel that spirit. But it has blossomed in an amazing way that I’m sure God is delighted and smiling up in his heavens.
Basketball stars cross themselves - and sometimes do weird things like Lebron James throwing dust into the air- before a game. I’m sure crosses and spits and whatever occur when teams cheer their baseball, soccer, or football teams, just for safe measure. It’s almost war across laps. People sit crammed in together and this almost stirs up not only their feelings about the players, but who are they are forced to sit beside like them or not? Then because someone says something negative or cursing or trying to knock someone else’s socks off, or their spirit reaches out, or attacks you because you hit me with your souvenirs and so you don’t deserve to have one. People in masses are often outrageous crowding outside and when I watch a soccer match for example in England or Brazil, one wonders how God can have His hand on or His vision of all those billions, it seems, of people crammed into stadiums so big they almost cover the whole city. I am horrified to be in such a crowd. Same with basketball when a stadium is filled with screaming, hating, cursing fans who want to have victory come out the way they want to have it come out, and bully to you sitting next to that person who is losing. Pals or staunch church goers are no longer a choice. It’s war on the basketball court until the home team smashes the visiting team or not.
Meanwhile, why do churches - now cathedrals - have to be monster things - made of expensive glass and silver and gold and are more about its extraordinary size credited to the pastor who has made a fortune on a TV program of sort, than a simple church with a cross and plenty of seats that are mas o menos comfortable but not too comfortable so people will sit up and listen to the sermon - which is the purpose really of Sunday celebrations - that and cleansing one’s souls and sins each week, whether in a box or in one’s heart. Most of the rest of the service, the Eucharist, is repetition, which is comforting for the regulars so they can sort of repeat it to themselves in their own way knowing they are waking up their feelings and praising God, no matter how the rest of the congregation feels what is going on, if they pay attention at all. Kids at least behave because they get to draw and color with the fun things provided.
We must remember that all of us are just not going to think alike or pray alike or smile or sing alike. Many have spent their whole life at Sunday services, know how to repeat the words, and can point out when a priest or deacon goes off the track and doesn’t say it precisely correct - does that matter? But rumors are religion is fading out. That’s what appeared in an important newspaper editorial. And I would say the opposite. Now the African Americans have become great pastors, priests, patrons of the churches that they fill every Sunday, although the whites seem to be fading out. Sadly, in a city like Memphis, there are rarely more than one or two African Americans in the white congregation, and that is apt to be a homeless client who understands the beauty and truth of worship. But there are hundreds of African American churches just inside Memphis’ city limits, it seems. And they turn on their souls to let Jesus in every week, with something like a barbecue or meal afterwards.
There are so many ways to “be Christian”. We don’t have to all be alike. It comes from the heart and soul, and somehow out there we can help somebody, and everything will be alright. We have the same purpose - to get to heaven and stand before God to present our case, our labor and love, our sin, and mistakes. Why today? Is it because of science or skeptics or folks needing something that makes sense to hold onto it? Why do Christians say God Bless America? It’s nice to hear our leaders give credit where credit is needed - but there is probably more faith spread through the rest of the world than just in United States, which is twisting itself so much that the point of the purpose - worshiping God and sharing Him with everybody possible - is almost lost in the dust. And how much of it is real, or just trying to look good as a politician and in public appearances. It even seems that our youth is turning away from church activities. Friends think that church is too gosh as does praying out loud or even at school, when you might be Jewish or Muslim or no kind of faith at all. So, eliminate all faiths and that way we rarely learn about not only who we are, but what we might be in our lives, when guessing.
Crusades like Billy Graham don’t seem to turn people on anymore. Once again, the Whys - too many sports on Sunday - be from golf to the best of professional football that drags families away from church so they can get out the brew and the chips - not intentionally meaning the wine and the bread that goes along with a true Eucharist. When I’m alone - which I am most of the time in Uruguay (the Anglican Cathedral is shut down for safety’s sake and the parish just died out), I never let a Sunday pass by without have a small service with myself. I allow Attila the Cimarron (Uruguayan) and Dana the huge Rottweiler to come sit in with me in my tiny cubby space where I do have a narrow view of giant Eucalyptus trees and the Rio de La Plata and when the sun shines brightly outside my tiny, tall window, it is extraordinary. The birds really chatter and sing out in the trees. And I hope God smiles and doesn’t give up on me as His servant always.
~ Rev
---------------------------------
audrey@audreytaylorgonzalez.com
www.audreytaylorgonzalez.com
|
