Meditations 4 Misfits

In this short reflection based on the Gospel of John 1:1-20, Fred shares some thoughts on the implications of Christmas.

15 years ago, my wife Nancy donated one of her two kidneys to a stranger … here is her story presented in the Oregonian Newspaper today … https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2022/12/donating-an-organ-to-a-stranger-its-a-small-price-to-pay-to-save-someones-life.html

In this reflection on the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Matthew, Fred shares what the experience of God might have been like for Mary and Joseph. “All-wise. All-powerful. All-loving. All-knowing. We bore to death both God and ourselves with our chatter. God is not to be expressed, only experienced.”
– Frederick Buechner 

“The task of bringing holiness into the world, which is the main obligation of every Jew, has always been seen in the Bible as a partnership, a combined project of humans and God.” – Rabbi Sharon Sobel 

“You enter the path of transformation when you begin to practice what you proclaim.” – Thich Nhat Hanh 

In Matthew 24:42 Jesus commands us to “Stay Awake.” What if he means “Don’t be so preoccupied with what might happen in the future that you miss what is going on around you Right Now?” In this reflection, Fred continues to share on the theme of how we might work to help make the invisible God visible. 

In this reflection, Fred shares some ideas from today’s lectionary readings, Colossians 1:11-20 and Luke 23:33-43, that might influence how we could behave as a church. 

A reflection of contrasting worldviews as presented by Isaiah (65:17-25) and Jesus (Luke 21:5-19) in the lectionary readings. “The key to living well is remembering that nothing lasts.” – Rami Shapiro 

“The secret,” the great trapeze artist Rodleigh told Henri Nouwen, “is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything.”