Thanksgiving 2

Here is the second set of gratitude reflections from the Campus women's group.

Note to those who read the blog via e-mail: You can visit the http://jeffmoles.blogspot.com and click on the pictures to see full size versions. Also, the post from last Tuesday did not e-mail for some reason. Visit the blog on the web if you want to read it.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I am back in Nashville now.

Thanksgiving 1

This was to be my Thanksgiving Day post, but I forgot to bring my camera cord home with me. So, here it is.

The women's group at the Campus discussed gratitude on Wednesday. I am posting their comments as they wrote them down.

WHAT IS GRATITUDE?










The rest will be posted in a second post.

Christ the King

One of the things that I kept hearing when people would tell me about the job I was about to start working with the homeless was something like this: “It will be a tough, tough job, but you will see the face of Christ every day.” I’ve found out they weren’t lying.

A week or so ago, I was sitting in the day room with Anniece. The crowd was starting to build, and we were laughing about the fact that everyone in the room looked like they were ready to gang up on us and kill us on the spot. Except for when our growing group of hardened street people was giving us the death stare, there was a lot of noise and chaos. People were talking loudly, the big screen TV was blaring at about 150 decibels. In the midst of all this, one person raised his voice. It was a gentleman who we had been dealing with for a few weeks who is very mentally ill and was refusing help. When he wasn’t obsessed over getting a bus ticket to Georgia, or Alabama, or wherever his home was at any given moment, he was railing at us about something, or talking about going to Montana to hunt owls for their claws. He is one that usually shows up at just the wrong moment and is a good test for that oft forgotten fruit of the Spirit, patience. His voice called out over the noise of the day room like he was paging someone—and I guess he was. He just looked up and said, “Jesus? Is Jesus Christ here?

After the two of us who were working looked at each other and started laughing, I think we said something like, “I don’t see him anywhere!” The volunteer who was with us from a local university said, “Well, I sure hope he is!”

Though my initial response was to laugh at the insanity of the situation, which there are many opportunities to do, this man’s paging of Jesus served as a moment of clarity for me. Jesus Christ is present in even the most hidden, ugly places of the world. Christ is there in the midst of the chaos and fear of life, bringing hope and peace to situations that the world would call beyond repair.

Christ was there when we heard an unusual noise outside when we were closing for lunch one day. Our participants were outside singing Happy Birthday. One of our women had gotten a cake so one of the men could have a birthday party.

Christ is there on the long, well worn path to the Guest House, where those who are heavily intoxicated are taken to get a warm place to sober up.

Christ is there with the sick, as the hospital drops them at our door after often major medical procedures that would require many weeks of recuperation for those of us fortunate enough to be housed.

Christ is there when forgiveness is sought. When a heartfelt apology is given to me to make amends for a wrong first impression, or words that were said in anger, the reconciling work of God is being done.

Christ is there when someone needs a pair of socks from the store, and on occasion 30 points somehow stretch into 50.

Christ will be there this Friday when the homeless choose Christmas gifts to send to the children who they miss so deeply.

Christ is there, suffering along with a woman whose eyes are blackened and whose body is bruised.

Christ is there when a young man’s restlessness is stilled by the creation of something beautiful in the art room.

Christ is there every night when people wait outside the gates wondering if there will be room for them in the inn. Will they get a coveted spot in our Room in the Inn program, and get to spend the night in a warm church, surrounded by friendly faces and generous meals, or will they face another night staying at the crowded mission, or under a bridge somewhere?

Jesus Christ is here with all of us. The lectionary text for Christ the King Sunday sometimes takes us to that passage in Matthew that places Christ with those who are the least of these. It is only by placing ourselves along side the suffering of this world that we are able to truly see the face of Christ each day.

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Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

More Light

All of the liberals in Tennessee gathered last Tuesday night in the sanctuary/activity center (or as it will be known as of Decmber 3 only the activity center) of Second Presbyterian, yes all 200 of us or so. Okay, so maybe not all the liberals were there. Some of the 18.7% of the state’s population that voted against the anti-gay marriage amendment to the Tennessee constitution a few weeks ago were probably not in attendance at a lecture and book signing by Jack Rogers, who served in 2001 as the Moderator of the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), but a good chunk—probably 250 or so—were.

The Covenant Network of Presbyterians has been sponsoring a book tour to promote Rogers’ newest book, Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Exploding the Myths, Healing the Church. Second Presbyterian was the last stop on this tour. During his lecture and question and answer session, Rogers discussed how his views on the issue of homosexuality changed when he really studied what the Bible had to say. Moreover, he does not consider himself to be a liberal Presbyterian, but an evangelical. I had read fomer Moderator Rogers’ book this fall, and I have found his arguments for the ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, as well as same-sex marriage to be among the most sound I have seen.

Second Presbyterian is unique among churches in this area, which I’ve found out is known as the “buckle of the Bible belt.” This fall, Second decided to become a More Light Presbyterian Church. It is the only one in Tennessee. More Light churches are those that actively work to promote the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the life and leadership of the church. A new welcome statement proclaims that “Second Presbyterian welcomes you to join us in our journey of faith, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, economic or family status, ethnic background, mental or physical abilities.”

So, why would Second, along with many other Presbyterian churches, take this kind of a stand when the Bible so “clearly” names homosexuality as a great sin? Well, if one really takes a look at the passages that reference homosexuality, one will find that many of those passages do not reflect at all the modern reality of monogamous non-exploitative same-sex relationships. As Jack Rogers argues, the modern concept of homosexuality was just not known in the times when the Bible was written. Also, Presbyterians read the Bible through the lens of the life and activity of Jesus Christ. We do not think (at least most of us do not think) that every sentence in the Bible is directly applicable to our modern lives. The dual law of love for God and love for neighbor is primary in Christian life. Rogers has studied the ways that the church changed its mind about women, and African Americans along the way. Despite what some say, the church can be wrong, and it often is—even for thousands of years.

I’d encourage everyone, no matter what side of the debate you’re on, to read Jack Rogers’ book, which is centered around sound, logical study of the Biblical text, along with study of the destructive patterns of human society that the church has perpetuated through the centuries. It is only with study, prayer and disernment that God's will is going to shed "more light" on this topic that is the source of such division, anger and fear in the church.

Jack Rogers Website

Second Presbyterian More Light Press Release

Moving up in the world!

Check out our new paved driveway! We are fitting into the Green Hills neighborhood more and more everyday with these household improvements.

The Veterans

This was supposed to be my Veterans Day posting, but I didn’t get to it yesterday. I went, along with Tara, to Philoxenia (hospitality) 2006 at Vanderbilt Divinity School yesterday. It was the first seminary/divinity school visit for both of us. Patrick and Chasie are on their way back today from a week in Mississippi doing some recovery work with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance along with three other members from Second Pres. I’m getting ready now to head over to church for the stewardship breakfast, and thought I’d post now since I know my supervisor at the Campus, Mary Wilder, lives for my blog posts.

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This Wednesday at the Campus, I taught my first current events class. Of course, it being Wednesday, my first topic was the election results. Only two guys showed up, two guys who I knew fairly well but never really had a serious conversation with. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I had my printouts from CNN.com about the election results. The two guys and I started going through the article. I interruped to give some of the news that I had heard while I was on my lunch break—that the Senate race was down to just Virginia, and that Donald Rumsfeld had resigned—“WHAT? RUMSFELD RESIGNED?!?” That’s all it took to get a really good discussion going for the entire rest of the hour. We never really discussed the election results specifically, but I suppose that if this election is viewed as a referrendum on the administration’s policy in Iraq then we discussed what was at the core of last Tuesday’s victory for the Democrats.

It was interesting to see how the three of us viewed the war. The two men who came to class were veterans of the U.S. military, one having served in the Navy during the early 80s, while the other was in the Marines in the 1980s. They each had stories about their travels around the world and the situations they had been a part of. One of them was fully behind the Iraq war, and the other was completely opposed, although their positions didn’t fall neatly into Democrat-Republican molds. I found that I agreed with some of what each one said. It shouldn’t have been suprising to me that they knew as much as they did about the state of the world and international security, though sometimes after working with people who can’t function in everyday life and for whom taking a shower is a big accomplishment makes me pigeonhole everyone we serve in that way. We had a great conversation about war and what the US’s role in the world should be, and how the UN should interact. I told the two as we were leaving that I would call CNN to see if I could get a debate show booked for them.

Talking with these two gentlemen who had served their country reminded me just what a large percentage of our participants at the Campus are veterans. A third of homeless men in the U.S. are veterans. People come back from the horror of war, and are confronted with a world that does not understand what they have been to. Participation in war often leads to mental illness, alcoholism and drug use, which in turn lead to homelessness. This might even be furthered when the lifestyle back home is not altered in any meaningful way even though we are a country at war.

I know I have met homeless veterans who served in Korea, Vietnam and the first war with Iraq. This article from the Christian Science Monitor is about those veterans pushed out onto the streets after their service in Iraq. Let us remember the veterans among us, and whether or not we support the reasons they were sent to fight, that they are in need of the care of the society that they represent on the battlefield.

A PRAYER FOR VETERANS DAY from the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

God of the ages, we thank you for all who have served in the armed forces of this country. Comfort those who grieve for those who gave the last full measure of devotion. Strengthen those who bear physical, emotional and spiritual wounds. Stand with those who provide care to them. Move us to reach out to sisters and brothers. Guide us to work for the day when no one needs to serve in the military. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

of the people, by the people, for the people

This is your election day reminder, from your favorite political science major, to vote today.

Click here to see the great document "Christian Principles in an Election Year" published by the National Council of Churches.

"and they shall beat their knives into paintbrushes..."

Upstairs at the Campus for Human Development, there is an oasis of sorts from the chaos, fear and ugliness of homelessness. The art room is a place where tension can be relieved, feelings can be expressed, and problems can be temporarily forgotten. Art classes, taught by volunteers and an art therapist are offered several days a week. It is amazing to see the level of artistic expression that comes out of the participants at the Campus.

Thursday evening was an art show and reception featuring works of art made in the Campus’ art room. During the one-night showing at Crystalwood Gallery (a month-long exhibition at Belmont University is coming up soon), the art was sold. All proceeds from the art show go to buy more supplies for the art room, which really is pretty well stocked.

Not all the art in the show was made by homeless people. Yes, that’s right, I am now an exhibited artist. In fact, “Geometric #3” by Jeff M., along with having a flashy name, was a pretty pricey item, with a $50 minimum bid and a $125 “buy it now” price. Too bad nobody bid on it.

It was fun to see what people had made and what people wanted to buy. It was also nice to bring my roommates along to meet the people I work with and to see some of what we do at the Campus.

Link to article in The Tennessean about the art show: 'Home' resonates through works by homeless artists.

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I know I've been posting a lot of newspaper articles lately, but here's another. I've been thinking that it is funny how some of the politician's homes in the area where we live here in Nashville look strangely like a prominent politician's home in Washington, D.C. Both Al Gore and Senator Bill Frist (the retiring Senate majority leader) live in pretty close proximity to The Toolshed, and they both live in big white colonial houses. The Frists live over on Bowling Avenue, about a mile from our place. The New York Times did an article on their house today.

NYT Link: Looking Presidential at Home in Nashville, Whether He Runs or Not

Group of four lives together, aids others

The Tennessean featured the Nashville Epiphany Project in today's paper. They focused on Tara, the "former cheerleader," as we like to call her, since they had not given Conexion Americas too much coverage in the past. They got my age wrong, but at least they made me younger. And--yes, we do like to tell religious jokes. I guess that makes us pretty cool, right?

Tara wants you to know that Conexion Americas doesn't seek to assimilate immigrants into American culture, but rather to integrate. She also doesn't want anyone to think that she carries the attitude that she is serving in an us-and-them kind of way. That type of mission work, which has been what most mission work has looked like in the past, is not what we are about in the Young Adult Volunteer program and in most Presbyterian missions. Rather, it is in doing mission with and not to or for others that we are best able to serve while being respectful of the image of God in those with whom we work.

Here's the link for online reading:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061104/NEWS06/611040309/1023

Saints That Weren't

Take some time to read this article from today's New York Times. It is an editorial that features the newest Roman Catholic saint, Mother Theodore Guerin, who founded St. Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute. Free registration may be required.

"Saints That Weren't" by James Martin
New York Times, November 1, 2006

For which saints (all of us are saints, remember) are you most thankful? Discuss in the comments section.