I am not sure how well Cesar Chavez would fit into today's role of the stereotypically slick, sound-bit, media-powered movement leader. But in the borderlands of the heart, where there is so much love and hate, this humble, nonviolent leader for human rights continues to remind us of those who have the least in our world and to inspire love, grace, and compassion for them. That is something to celebrate.With everything going on these days, I need the kind of grounding that only John Coltrane can bring.
Bob Biniak, my of my favourite Dogtown skaters from back in the day, has died. This guy was fearless and such an inspiration. RIP.
[This is why I love Gordon Cosby of Washington, D.C.'s Church of the Saviour. He may be in his 90s, but he truly gets it. Truly and deeply. -A]"There is a river, whose streams gladden the city of God..." (Psalm 46:4).
The stream flowing through our lives is from eternity to eternity. It is artesian. It is totally adequate. Everything we need is borne by that stream. Its origin is the realm beyond, and it carries infinite resources. In this space-time realm, conditioned as we are, the stream can seem to be a trickle. It seems puny against the drugs we're battling, against the divisions among us or the power of greed that fuels our economy.
When we're up against all the world's needs and lacks--the way we perceive life--the stream seems inadequate. But in fact, it is a powerful, surging, cleansing tide that purifies all it touches. It is a grace torrent. It flows irrespective of merit. It carries everything that a human being has ever needed--and could ever want. Whatever we need will flow by at just the opportune moment. Our problem is that we're not attuned to the stream. We don't see it. We're not even looking in the river's direction.
But when we wait in expectancy, looking at the stream and then recognizing what we need as it floats by, we simply reach out and take the gift. It's an effortless way of living. Usually we're not attuned to effortlessness. We're too busy striving. We're holding forth and carrying on and trying to reach our goals. The wisdom of the stream is the opposite of this. What I'm talking about is moving from a conceptual awareness of God's care--the idea of God's providence--to trusting the flow of that stream that carries everything we need and will bring it at just the opportune moment.
[Read the rest of this sermon at Inward/Outward.]Gordon Cosby, along with his wife Mary, established The Church of the Saviour in 1947. In this, his 93rd year of life, he still offers his wisdom and vision to the community. Audio versions of his sermons can be downloaded at Tell the Word. (Click on "Search the Word.")
Source: Sermon (June 11 1989)
More than an hour after the Canadians won gold in men's hockey, our whole apartment complex (8 high rises, 2000+ apartments), broke out singing "O Canada" from the balconies. Hockey, as everyone knows, is a core part of Canadian culture and it was so beautiful to see this country overwhelmed with joy when this was confirmed on the international stage.
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