August 13, 2017 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost - Food for Thought, Fuel for a Different Kind of Living

On Friday evening last week white supremicists surrounded a historically black church hosting a prayer vigil, while waving lit torches and chanted a Nazi slogan demonstrating against the removal of s statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia. On Saturday people of faith and clergy gathered in opposition to people calling for white supremacy. Someone drove a car into a crowd of counter-protestors. President Trump reacted with the following statement: "We're closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides."

For the weekend this was America's lead national story. I followed this story until I left for church on Saturday. That afternoon I participated in another story. A story about a community engaged in living out our vision and hope for bringing about a more inclusive future for all.

This was not in opposition to the weekend's lead story. It was planned without knowledge of the lead story. On Saturday family, friends and fellow congregants gathered together for Dr. Samuel Tse's Memorial Service at my church.

Let me say first of all that I believe Sam inspired everyone who met him. He was an immigrant to this country from China's Canton Province. The story of his escape was amazing.  In 1970, with his feet cut by running barefoot (guards took shoes to keep him in a work camp). He swam for five hours through shark-infested waters of the South China Sea. He memorably said later about his experiences “We are all immigrants and pilgrims on this earth. The journey is short, let us help each other, love each other, and thank God for being his child....”

Pastor Michelle, in her sermon the next day, preached: "As I listened to the Chinese interpreter for the service, I looked around the room and saw many beautiful children of God who happen to be of Chinese ancestry.  I also saw a few other nationalities and races represented among Sam’s family and friends....  “This is the family of God!,” I said to myself.  “These are the beautiful rainbow children of God....”  She continued by quoting Aditi Juneja on Twitter, who wrote, '“If you’ve wondered what you would’ve done during slavery, the Holocaust, or the Civil Rights movement…you’re doing it now.,,,,”  Food for thought...and, I pray, not only food for thought, but fuel for action!"'

I want to be clear on my reaction to the Juneja quote. It can carry, for some, an implicit judgment about what people should currently do by presuming the preferred food for thought, the preferred actions for individuals to take, are all confrontational. Who would not want to deal with what are now considered historic wrongs through direct confrontation?

I don't think, however, this kind of direct confrontation is the only viable response to this weekend's lead story. The Creator weekend experience was not directly confrontational but moved us towards another larger vision and a better future.

Several times Creator's community responses have overwhelmed me and transcended what I imagined might happen next. The action God inspires may not be the action we think we must take. Saturday reminded me of the careful planning done after a vote we took in 2009 to affirm our inclusive welcome to all, including LGBT. In the midst of that planning two of those members decided to get married. We obviously could not have planned this but it firmly established a new way of living out our discipleship. The Holy Spirit was working.

During Saturday's service listening to those who shared with everyone their memories of Sam was enlightening. They knit together different aspects of Sam's life, from a neighbor's anecdote to his older sister's emotional tribute of his impact in the families life. The service moved everyone and, despite what could have been potential language barriers, no one was excluded.

This Sunday's gospel was about Jesus walking on the water. As disciples I suppose it is up to us to ask if we can get out of our boat; the boat of how we complacently live, or in how we think the world works. When we do. Jesus holds out his hand.  

I can't speak to walking on the water but at least for a brief, beautiful, weekend our story was we did walk out of our boat. We were swimming with life, with God, and Sam, enveloped in a God given vision. 

Swimming with God

My Song of Remembrance for Dr. Samuel Tse

Sam had led an empty life

Till 1970

When he left the world he'd known

By swimming the China Sea

Five hours in the dark to dark freedom

Not knowing where his life might lead him

Later on in a summer camp

Circa 1975

Where he learned about Jesus

And waded to what changed his life

In his bones this was his second baptism

One more immersion in that same South China Sea

Where he found

Life is swimming with God, ceaselessly.

He is swimming with God, finally.

Now I miss his friendly smile

With his kindness pushing through,

His earnestness when he talked of God

As we both said our adieu

I know he knew

Life is swimming with God, ceaselessly.

We are swimming with God, finally