What Season Is It?

It can be interesting, as a Christian and as a priest, to see how secular society interprets religious experience.

High Festivals, for example…. Cultural Christmas seems to sit anticipationally adjacent to the religious season; Easter is more about a day than a season with a focus more on egg hunts than empty tombs; and Pentecost isn’t really even known outside the church!

When I was out this week, I saw a prime example of how culture (specifically capitalist culture) and church-land can be very different places – and how there seems to be minimal effort or interest in bridging those gaps.

A store was clearing out their “Easter Advent Calendar”… complete with a 3D tree to decorate. (Surely something cartoon couldn't be aspiring to the solemnity of Lent, this must be just an effort to consider a countdown to a special day? Was the enclosed "Letter to the Easter Bunny" a nod to secular Christmas postal efforts?)

Admittedly, while I was still rather tired after the exuberance of our resurrection celebrations, to say that this product confused me would be an understatement!

Yet: rather than spend much time or effort trying to pull apart the conflated seasons, or categorise the plethora of reasons for my consternation, it made me wonder: how can we better communicate the truth of our high festivals, the tenets of our faith, the basics of why we do what we do?
The opportunity is there, and if we do not speak up, capitalism will – evidently!

And I’m not suggesting we can override capitalism, nor that we should rail against such creative expressions of seasonal sales… but perhaps we can consider how we might form and foster relationships with the people in our community, so that the most basic of our celebrations are understood?

I am under no delusions that we can – or should – ban the bunny; but I would hope that we could boldly share with at least one person the true joy of what Easter really is – and Christmas when that season comes – and all the other beautiful things that make church the blessing that it is.

For if we don’t communicate the truth of the Good News of God, who knows how far off the creative marketing teams will take it.

Easter Baskets

At last evening’s Easter Vigil service, a guest came with an Easter basket. He is Ukrainian descent, and his basket was a traditional Ukrainian Easter basket: these are wicker baskets that hold a variety of symbolic food stuffs and condiments, with a candle and an embroidered paschal cloth. Each item speaks of God’s grace and mercy and goodness, and tradition is for the baskets to be brought to Easter Sunday services to be blessed by the priest, before being shared with family as the holiday feast.

What a privilege to have been asked to bless this man’s Easter basket tonight – he wasn’t sure he would have time on Sunday to have the priest at the Ukrainian church bless it. I don’t know the traditional blessing, but we prayed together for him, for the contents of the basket, and for the continuance of the celebration of Easter to touch all our hearts. He hugged me in thanks when he left.

The experience left me considering what I might put into an Easter basket, if I were to categorise symbols of God’s goodness in my life. There might be eggs (candy or chicken!) for the symbolism of new birth; coffee for the gift of clarity, and the traditional foods of my own Easter feast (nachos, yum). Perhaps a pen and paper for the writing I enjoy, and the scriptures for how much I love speaking and preaching. Some music, perhaps a novel, and momentos of the relationships I hold dear (a troll doll, a canoe paddle, my soapstone seal). Some dog toys and treats, of course, for my loves. . .

The list could go on. As we celebrate Easter and the promise of new life that we are given, perhaps we can also pause to celebrate this transitory life: for the blessings of God are not withheld from us in the here and now. And asking God to bless these things as we continue to benefit from them keeps us connected to the source and giver of that perfect love.

So… what’s in your basket?

Have a Good Day!

I have a picture of a dog on my desk with the caption “I’ve decided today will be a good day!” Admittedly, this can often be easier for dogs than humans (especially dogs that are pampered like mine!). But, this week, I tried to lean in to that concept.

Each day, regardless of the challenges and obstacles, I made it a goal to see and celebrate the good things: the stranger at the opposite gas pump telling me to have a good day, the fun design on a coffee cup, the random avocados at choir practice, the laughter with friends… God has put joy in my life!

I decided this week to not just appreciate what was happening to me, but also to try to spread the joy.

I tried to help someone at the store who said ‘I looked friendly’ (we both laughed when neither of us could locate the hunted object).

I overtipped at the coffee shop on a day when I was praying through some heart-heavy challenges and opted for a caffeinated pick-me-up.

I complimented the very bored yet well-behaved child in the grocery line behind me, and made sure their parent heard it.

I spoke to a store manager about helpful and kind service from a staff person – and the manager let me know it was the first positive feedback they’ve received in months.

They were all little things - but I hoped that they would make someone else have a good day.
It’s a bit of a ‘warm fuzzy’ for myself too, of course; which makes it a win-win.

Seeking out the positive doesn’t mean that there weren’t obstacles this week (there were), or that one little thing can make an entire day great (unlikely), or even that an effort to make a good day will be received (life can be overwhelming and distracting).

…but it’s a little thing, a worthwhile thing. It’s living the Gospel a tiny bit at a time; bringing light and love into the world in ways that are not expensive or onerous or even expected: but hopefully enjoyed in authentic ways.

It doesn’t take much to decide to have (or make) a good day.

 

Conducted!

Photo by SSO

In the past few weeks, I’ve been fortunate to sing with a couple of choirs, and to have attended a couple of musical concerts.

In each case, there has been a conductor: the person who seems to get all the applause, and who is the ‘front and centre’ for the performances. For those who aren’t familiar with the processes, it may seem strange to just have one person – the one person who is not themselves part of the production of the music – be on the receiving end of the accolades.

Admittedly, it’s common for conductors to fully acknowledge the musicians, and invite recognition of the efforts of the performance to go to the performers.

Conductors from Dixit - SSO

However: conductors are not simply stand-ins or time-keepers: far from it!
Conductors are musicians themselves, and their role requires them to have extensive knowledge of every part individually. Each part is beautiful and emotive in its own right; but the conductor then uses this knowledge to weave together the component parts of multiple instruments and voices in ways that create an output that is greater than the sum of the parts.

The conductor also embraces this knowledge, with an ability to engage and encourage each instrument’s part, using their skill to tease out increasingly impressive musicality, to enhance and uplift the gifts of others.

There are nuanced adjustments made, as the conductor realises the conversation and interplay of so many parts, coalescing for the enhancement of the music and the benefit the audience.

Conductors do a LOT! And their entire purpose is to make the musicians perform to the best of their ability, honouring the composer of the piece, and sounding as wonderful as possible.

Having been conducted (and with another concert next week) – I have learned to have tremendous appreciation for conductors! The folks I’ve worked with have been examples of grace and positivity, going out of their way to be affirming and encouraging, inspiring and empowering for us. They are there not to just direct music, but to build us up and strengthen community – music is just the conduit for their ministries.

It's been a delightful time to reflect on being conducted… and to ponder about the potential to be conductors in all aspects of life. How might we engage with folks in our social circles to extend and bring about compassion, to encourage grace, to uphold expressions of love? How can we mentor, guide, and accompany others on their journey, that leaves them feeling good about the good work they have done in what they offer to the world?