I confess I have an
inquisitive mind. Whether this is a guirk or gift, I've been inquisitive for as
long as I can remember. This inner nudge to explore, discover, learn
and ask questions also lures me to embrace life. Sometimes I even uncover
an 'Aha'.
Two
or three times a month, I come together with our Women of Faith small group.
Our gatherings are continuously filled with stories, bible studies, questions,
challenges, laughter, ‘Ahas’, more questions.
It seems the more we learn, the more we want to study and learn. I love
our inquisitions and how we learn from one another. This year we are studying the Acts of the
Apostles as we travel back in time, exploring the culture of our roots.
Our
gatherings sometimes reminds of my Jewish heritage, and how students and rabbis
of both ancient and modern times congregate to study and learn. More often than
not, if you enter a room where students are involved in spiritual study (or any
educational learning), the air will be filled with cross-person chatter and
questions The
life of Jewish spiritual study focuses not only on the simple absorption of
material, but on varying dialogue between students and texts and teacher.
Generally, the focused-on text - possibly the Talmud (first 5
books of the Bible plus student and rabbinical analysis) and/or the Bible - is surrounded by two or more commentaries: centered
on the text with others focused on the commentaries. Traditionally, Jewish students
will gather with others to learn from the texts through dialogue, questions and
debates.
The
Gospel stories tell of Jesus gathering his Disciples for the purpose of teaching
and learning. Their studies took place
through observation, discussion, questions, and parables (storytelling). Later
on, the Disciples would take what they had learned and begin to instruct
others. What does it mean today for you and I to be disciples….to learn and
grow and pass on what we know? My
invitation to you is to gather with others as you watch this ½ hour video, travel
back in time in Israel, and learn about the early disciples. In the Dust of the Rabbi
Several
years ago, a friend asked what led me, after I was baptized, into the Lutheran
Church. I will tell you making this decision took about ten years. I went from
non-denominational to Episcopal and finally to Lutheran, during which time I
was reading up, asking questions, learning about other denominations. Eventually, my journey in the Lutheran faith
led me on to being confirmed. One day, on
the way home from work, I found myself thinking…I am Jewish and I am Lutheran
and I have come home. Not because I had
found the answers. Not at all. But because I found myself in a church body
where I could practice my faith, learn about forgiveness, ask the questions, engage
in debate, and then explore my faith further.
I
found while the Lutheran faith is deep in tradition and ritual, it embraces
education, learning, recognizing God as the Merciful and Grace-filed Creator
and thus the church is open to the world ecumenically. While there is so much I
don’t know, my faith exploration can and does continue on through fellowship, readings,
the arts, through prayer and actions, through feeling, sensing and thinking, and
by just being. The God who created the
universe is all-encompassing.
I
would encourage you, whether you are searching for your own spiritual path,
following one known and familiar to you, experiencing doubts or stuck, feeling
at peace, or finding your days so crowded you’re thinking ‘I don’t have time to
contemplate my spiritual path’…..to make time for yourself to explore, to read, to
listen to a tape or watch a film, talk with a faith friend. Take time, whether it’s 5 minutes a day or 1
hour a week. Just start somewhere…..and
ask your questions.
Prayer
can help open our mind. If you’re not
sure where to start or what say, “God help me” is a good beginning. Still unsure, check out Psalm 139 . There’s no such thing as a
silly question. It’s the ‘not asking’
and ‘not learning or seeking’ that can keep us stuck.
Last
week at the public library, I noticed a showing of elaborate, beautiful quilts. Having the gift of sight (we all have different gifts), it was hard for me not to
notice. Many of the quilts were
fashioned from intricately designed squares or shapes of some sort, in a wide
variation of colors and textures, with scrolls running through them. In their individuality they were somehow
bound together into beautiful art forms.
Can you see how life is like this?
Could you look at one square or shape form and not want to know how it
was formed and what it was connected to? Quilting
may not be your thing, yet I think you can get the picture.
We
are all students in life. Opening our minds and senses to learn means we
are willing to broaden our perspective, or to learn why we believe what we do;
learn about other cultures and beliefs, and in the process embrace the mystery
of life and within our own faith. There
will always be questions and challenges and unknowns. Yet is helps to have a firm grasp and educated
understanding of why you believe what you believe. My experience has been that in exploring my
faith, I am able to embrace and to welcome the mysteries of my faith and of life.
This
weekend, Lutherans around the world will celebrate the Reformation. I've included two videos on the why and how of our Celebration, and encourage you to
watch one or both with family and/or friends….and then follow up with discussions,
debate, questions…..and see where this process leads you.
In
your own journey, I encourage you to explore and study the mysteries of your
faith and the world in which we live. You
will be that much richer for doing so….even if this leads to more questions. God’s Word, God's Creation and Your Spirit are worth exploring.
Shalom,
Susan
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