Theology of Awe

What is awe? Paul Hill created this definition — the serendipitous, unanticipated experience of the holy. #FirstThird
— Sandy Kathleen (@sandykathleen) November 26, 2012

I have spent a majority of yesterday at Luther Seminary's First Third Dialogue titled, Why Can't my Church be More LIke Camp? The Power of Immersion Learning in Faith Formation. 

Immersion Learning is a hot topic for youth workers and church professionals. We all know there is something unique about the experiences our students have at camp and on short-term mission trips. I am not denying that reality, and I am excited to be with other leaders who want to push this topic further.

Paul Hill, Executive Director of Vibrant Faith Ministries, presented a theology of awe yesterday afternoon. Paul looked to define awe in many ways included a definition he crafted himself -- the serendipitious, unanticipated experience of the holy. Awe is that thing that undermines all of our assumptions. Awe is how God works. Awe is both humility and blessing. And unlike so many things in the world, there is no shortage of awe.

After Paul's presentation we gathered in small groups to dig further into this idea of awe. My group defined awe for ourselves and looked to articulate moments of awe in our own lives. These themes became apparent through our own sharing:

• Awe is different for each person. Therefore, we must look towards the individual, although it may be easier to look at the whole, especially with immersion experiences.
• We can experience moments of awe in the here or now, but we can also experience awe in looking back.
• We must have some sort of knowing of the existence of awe to experience awe.

We then wondered together what it would look like to create the space for awe. Earlier Paul had used the metaphor that camp sets the table for experiences of awe. We set our table and included community, vulnerability, trust, and people.

Yet we were left wondering about this space we had set. In some way we wondered if we have to create the understanding of awe in order to experience awe. For example, I challenge my students to find glimpses of the beloved community in their everyday lives. If this is the first time I asked them to do this and I gave no explanation or example, I cannot be shocked if they report back with glazed looks on their faces. But instead we spent time looking at what is the beloved community and what it looks like in our current context. Do we need to look at awe in the same way or can we leave it as this unnamed abstract thing that transforms everything we know to be true?

A question was posed on whether the church needs to promise moments of awe within their ministry just like camp. I am fearful for that. How do we know of the next in-breaking of the spirit? I fear promoting our next immersion experience as life-changing, because maybe it won't be. I have no control over that. I can set the table. I can wait. And I can challenge my students to find moments of awe in the ordinary, but it might not happen. I'm not trying to limit God or the creative work of the Spirit but I admit, I'm fearful. I do wonder if there is a shift of looking at the awe in the whole of the experience and challenging students and ourselves to find awe in the simplicity of everyday.

I look forward to what Paul adds to the conversation on awe later today. I do agree that there is something intrinsically unique about awe.

Feel free to follow along on twitter using the hashtag #FirstThird.

In My Own Little Corner

There is this place at the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Airport that I like to sit and watch from. It is at the very beginning of Terminal E. To the left you will find a shoe shine and digital boards listening arrivals and departures.  To the right is a wall of glass windows that give you a glimpse out onto the tarmac. The windows are inviting. Low bench like sills and pillars dividing the glass make this spot the perfect place to sit and watch people pass by while waiting for a flight.

For almost four years I have found this exact spot to be one of my favorites. This very spot has been my space as I have sat in anticipation on numerous occasions, whether it be traveling for a meeting, home to Philadelphia to celebrate Christmas with my family or off to Virginia to frolic through the mountains. I have cried in this spot. I have laughed in this spot. I have even colored and dozed off in this spot. For some reason this spot holds a unique value.

Yesterday I arrived back to Minnesota. Less than a week earlier I found shelter in this spot as I clutched my boarding pass just waiting for it to be my turn to take-off. Today, after I got off my plane I used this spot to re-organize my belongings before moving to baggage claim. But I found myself frustrated. I wanted to be able to sit in this spot, because sitting in this spot meant that I got to go somewhere.

I have to admit that I was feeling grumpy having to come back to Minnesota. I was not ready to be back. I knew my return meant finishing up the semester, as well as preparing to be out of the office for over a month.

I knew I did not have the time, nor was it reasonable, but so much of me wanted to take a seat by the window and watch the people pass by. For just that short amount of timeI could imagine that this spot was taking me somewhere else, just like I imagine the lives of the people passing by.

Advice for Older Adults Greeting Young Adults

Our brothers and sisters of the Unitarian Universalist Association have created and published this incredible flyer called Coffee House Caution. 

I know for a fact that these questions get asked of young adults in the church, I've been a victim to almost all of them. I even work in the church and get some of these questions, but most of the unwelcoming curiosity comes when I am visiting churches in the area. 

The comment that I find myself hating the most is, "We need more young people." Of course that would be great, but a statement like that gives you more concern about those missing and no interest in me, the one who did show up for Sunday morning worship or early-morning Matins. I am not trying to be selfish or self-centered, but I want to know that I matter and that I am valued. I do not want to be lumped (with the whole of young adults) nor do I deserve to be the freak show young adult who craves the smells and bells on high feast days. 

I also get huffy and puffy when asked what year I am in school. It is almost as if the only young adults who show up are in some way connected to one of the colleges and universities surrounding the parish. Why, yes, I am a student but if you approach me with a question like that I am going to pretend that I am currently not a student. I may even be tempted to revert to my childhood and stick my fingers in my ears and loudly proclaim, 'La, La, La. I can't hear you.'

I could be overreacting and a little ridiculous, I have been told I do that often by some folks, but if we want to be the church, the church with a radical welcome, it is time that we make that a priority. It is time that we teach people how to be in conversation, how to ask the difficult questions and how to extend a message of welcome. 

Playing the Building

Last night I visited a participatory art exhibit called Playing the Building at Aria in Minneapolis. David Byrne, the musician beyond this traveling experience, uses an antique organ to transform Aria into a musical instrument. The organ itself is attached to a variety of structural elements of the building, including metal beams, electrical conduits and pipes. As each key is hit a different piece of the building reacts.

The most exciting part of the exhibit is the yellow letters that proceed the seat of the organ that say, "PLEASE PLAY." The building itself becomes the instrument, not just the small organ console that sits in the barren floor of the gallery. The building itself is a work of art with glazed windows, exposing brick and what I can only assume as original to the building metal work.

Playing the Building will be at the Aria through December 5th. Aria's website has more information about visiting. Thursday is Pay as you Wish Thursday, but do not forget to support the arts!

The Story of a Dinner Church

St. Lydia's is a Dinner Church located in Brooklyn, New York. The time spent together over a meal offers a space "to eat, explore scripture, offer prayers and sing together." In the video they use the language of this being practice for being in the world.

I have never been To St. Lydia's, but I have been following this community through facebook and twitter for some time now. I may even say I have been fascinated with this approach of being the church.

As a Children, Youth and Family Minister, I wonder about the importance the meal holds for students, not just with their peers but also with other members of the community. For example, last night during the Community Meal at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, I asked a eighth grade student if I could join him during the meal. Soon three other students joined us at this table, as well as a few young adults. As we sat there and shared our meal we had conversation that may be very normal at a table. We shared about our day, our week and even some pieces of our past. Again, this may be so simple, but I continue to find the table being a sacred place. It is a place where we have the ability to take the time to share, to listen and to expose little pieces of oneself.

My current wondering as I watched the video above is can the modern practices of Confirmation be forgotten and can we move to being present with one another at the table for exploration with young people. Here we can practice and share, explore and question, and pray and sing. Like always, this is a wondering but I hope we continue to find the space to share the sacred practice of the meal together, especially with young people.

I refuse not to discuss topics surrounding religion, politics and The Great Pumpkin

A great theologian by the name of Linus Van Pelt once said, "There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people... religion, politics, and The Great Pumpkin." I am usually in passionate agreement with Van Pelt, as I see the many parallels between our unique lives, but for some reason I find myself in strong disagreement with this statement.

I do have to note that it is only in the last few years that I have found the need to disagree with this statement. Prior to this change of understanding I would deflect any conversation surronding religion, politics and especially, The Great Pumpkin. I knew what I believed and thought and was fearful to share that with others. I saw the potential for disagreement and a skew in confidence would leave me walking away frustrated and doubtful.

I am unable to name one significant event that has transformed my thinking, but have come to some conclusion that it is the power of conversation I have experienced surrounding these topics. And it has been in the past few months that I continue to be transformed by the power that conversation holds not just in my life but the world around me.

Many of you are aware that Minnesota is taking two important issues to the people today:

Amendment 1: Recognition of marriage solely between one man and one woman

Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?

     and

Amendment 2: Photo Identification required for Voting

Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, 2013?

It has been almost overwhelming to see the role that conversation holds in this election. As I have spent time phone banking, going door to door and even simple data entry, I have seen the power these conversations hold surrounding the topics of religion and politics.To be clear -- discussions around politics and religion have been significant in this election. To go further -- discussions around politics and religion will continue to hold tremidious weight until the polls close this evening, as well as we continue the conversation following November 6th.

I can only begin to articulate the stories I have heard, the questions that have been asked of me and the skepticism of why does this matter. Yet the beautiful power of conversation has lead me to tell my story, ask questions of others and even come with skepticism of my own.

I have not used this space today to articulate my story, but here are a few spaces that have been places of conversation for me. And please honor, respect and engage this conversation. It does not end today. It cannot end today.

Continue the Conversation:
An Open Letter to The Great Pumpkin
Herb Chilstrom, former Bishop in the Lutheran Church, and his wife, share their story through this video, The Meeting, of why they will be voting no today. Chilstrom also shared an open letter through the Star Tribune.
David Blankenhorn has been a leading national opponent of allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. His view has changed and urges Minnesota to no limit the freedom to marry through this video.

Social Media Sabbath

I took a break. Not a long break, but a small one. It was more than a break, I called it my Social Media Sabbath. I  was stuck in the tension of needing to be caught up in the lives of everyone, but also in the concern of the future. I needed to stop. I needed to respond to the present.

So for one week I may have been a little selfish. I needed authenticity. I needed to be transparent. And I needed a healthy break to be present in my own life, the lives of others and the reality of the world around me.

This past week has been filled with me being human. And in being human I needed to cry. I needed to laugh. I needed to be present with people who would allow me to be human. This may not seem like I was asking a lot, but sometimes I feel the burden of being human.

After this past week I am left saying thank you to those of you that challenge me to be human. Thank you for the embrace, the care and the acceptance of my ridiculousness.