Chapel of Ease
St. Helena Parish Chapel of Ease Ruins – This image was uploaded as part of Wiki Loves Monuments 2012.
If you come to worship at the Chapel of Ease in Frogmore, South Carolina, you will find it empty and in ruins.
Nothing is easy right now and yet, some things are too easy because they are somewhere in the halfway world between real and unreal, desirable and deplorable, or hopeful and hopeless. We are uncovering a mystery that ease is not a breeze and even when the breeze blows, what flows may not be that to which we aspire. So, indulge me a wrestling match with myself as I muse through this Monday in May.
Easy Prayer
Prayer is not always easy.
At times, it can be difficult.
Connecting involves breaking through barriers.
That can be tough.
Distance.
Cold indifference.
Lifeless words.
Soulless sentiments.
Mundane moments.
Routine.
Ritual.
Obligation.
Distracted sensibility.
These are the impediments,
The sediments of the ruins of
Yesterday's attempts to build an
Empire of prayer,
A tower to Heaven,
Babbling Babels.
Guilty self-flagellation longing for relaxed intimacy and immediacy
Cries out for something authentic.
Then, in just a moment, realization.
It has been about me … even the efforts at devotion and upward focus – MY depth of spiritual sensitivity.
Arrogance wrapped in self-loathing.
How about a conversation about something outside of me?
How about a shared concern with an Eternal Friend whose love for our common friend
Is calling me to intercession, even mention?Maybe then … prayer.
And ease.
____________
Easy Violence
________________
I do hate violence.
I hate it enough to want to shake some sense into perpetrators .
I do get the irony of that and I will not act upon the urge.
Suburban. Urban. It is the same thing. Our inner city neighborhoods are terrorized and terror creeps across the tracks into the tracts.
Parents are locking their kids in. Kids are being pressured and groomed to carry out the violent intents of their handlers.
Citizens are being duped into thinking counter violence is the only solution.
Easy violence always begets easier violence, even in our righteous fantasy life.
Something stronger, steadier, and longer-lasting rises.
Violence makes me want to punch something … and then, I understand the problem.
_______________
Easily Stepping Over
Maybe, I Am the Litterbug.
______________________
What if we all decided not to step over trash for a day?
I guess others had already decided.
We could really clean up.
________________
Uneasy Silver Silence
________________
Silence is not always golden.
Sometimes it is silver.
Sometimes it is just plastic… and of the most disposable sort – cowardice.
Have you ever felt intimidated about stating an opinion, question, observation, or passing idea?
Have you ever calculated the fear of being judged, labeled, or categorized for having a divergent view on some subject or a doubt about some matter of ideological orthodoxy?
We have all seen people pounced on and maligned.
I tend to identify with such people and feel really bad for them, even when I am not in agreement — but I am sometimes too big of a coward to come to their defense.
I am getting a little weary of critics, mean-spirited commentators, and ungracious quip-jockeys who latch on to any and every bit of negative evidence to prove their point against someone or something – with or without verifying their information — and without regard to context, real meaning, or relevance.
A lot of this comes from my tribe, but it is not tribal. It is a not the product of any one ideology. All tribes have those who succumb to the temptation. All of us have done it. Our technology makes it easier to practice it and, often, at the same time, to be victims of it — which makes us want to practice it more. We need to resist it and be as gracious, loving, reasonable, and balanced in the public arena as most of us are face to face with real people — because we really ARE face to face with REAL PEOPLE.
And I said, "weary," not angry, but beat-up, demoralized, and tired of fighting … today.
I struggle with this, and then …
Tomorrow brings a new burst of energy and enthusiasm to love and speak truth in love.
In the meantime, we probably ought to be able to address any issue from our perspective without fear of being labeled or thought of as an enemy — or part of some sinister conspiracy to deprive our neighbors of their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
We might even be able to change each other's minds on a thing or two.
At least we can get all the points and counterpoints out there and help the opposition sharpen their arguments even as we sharpen our own …
… and we might make a friend along the way.
In the meantime, I bracing myself for a season of nastiness.
________________
Unready Readiness
The Greatest Unease
________________
I am in a state of unready readiness … paradoxically speaking!
God of readiness, of constancy, and of mystery,
Invade me, overthrow my stubborn reluctance and
Disperse my stagnant sentries who stagger the soul
And stalwartly resist that which you insist will set me free.
Mercy and grace be Your weapons of invasion,
My only defense is pretense.
Lower the flag that flies over the castle of my heart
Declaring autonomy and replace it …Raise the flag of liberation and spontaneity!
Raise the flag of serendipitous joy!
Raise the flag of righteousness and peace!
Raise the flag of readiness for I am ready to be made ready!I am ready and I am rising from the place to go to the next place …
And then …..
Pastor Tom's Community 
Leave a comment