Author Archives: PRP

“Why the Boy Scouts are wrong…again”

Posted on by
Reply

As a young boy I looked forward to Wednesday afternoons because after school my friends and I would gather as a pack, a pack of Cub Scouts engaged in crafts, games and many other activities. My involvement with Scouting continued and my personal growth and appreciation for everything that Scouting taught me continued until a myriad of other activities in high school pulled me away. Although I never achieved the highest levels of Scouting as a young man, my memories are as distinct as the lessons I learned: respect others, appreciate your community and try to give back, give thanks to God for all that has been given you, and of course many lessons of outdoor life and skills. I can also list many things that Scouting never taught me, because these things just never seemed to matter to those involved with learning and having fun together: the color of one’s skin determines who you are, you are limited by who you keep company with, and your personal sexuality is a cause of judgment against you. These last things were not only never addressed, but if one were truly attentive to the Scouting Oath and the Law of Scouting they were proved to be completely false…or so I thought until fairly recently. Continue reading →

“And so it ends, but do we all go to Heaven? C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce”

Posted on by
Reply

Lewis Great DivorceThe Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis; chapters 12-14

These few chapters conclude the fantastical tale of Heaven and Hell by C.S. Lewis. Chapter 12 begins with the introduction of a dazzling woman whose goodness and light spreads out like the widening ripples of a wave. We learn that the woman would have been barely noticed on earth but her goodness was so wonderful that she is sparkling in Heaven, where all inner goodness shines for all to see. She meets her departed husband, a man who is a ghostly image of a man, a man still clinging to his pride and self-righteousness. The dazzling woman asks the man for his forgiveness for any wrongs she may have committed and invites him to do the same, leading him toward the ultimate understanding of self-emptying love. His love, however, has conditions, stories, and excuses connected to it. As much as he might want to let go, he cannot bring himself to the full understanding of love.

Chapter 13 continues the story of the dazzling woman and the ghostly man, leading the reader on a journey that brings us to an important question: can those in Heaven truly be happy and filled with joy knowing that others remain in the torments of Hell? The narrator of the story cannot bear to think that true joy can be savored while aware of the plight of the damned. The heaviness of this thought brings our narrator to think that only when everyone is within Heaven’s gate can true joy be had…but our narrator’s heavenly guide says, “not so fast!” In one of Lewis’ most provocative thoughts of his tale, Lewis offers the following proposition: “What some people say on Earth is that the final loss of one soul gives the lie to all the joy of those who are saved,” and his guide responds, “Ye see it does not.” (p. 135) The heavenly guide continues to explain why not, “The demand of the loveless and the self-imprisoned that they should be allowed to blackmail the universe: that till they consent to be happy (on their own terms) no one else shall taste joy: that theirs should be the final power; that Hell should be able to veto Heaven.” (p. 135) In the concluding lines of the chapter Lewis’ makes it plain that Heaven shall not wait on those pride-filled and stubborn ones who refuse to let go of their own designs…God is the One true source of love and light and Heaven will move on without them, should they choose to absent themselves from God’s abundant love.

The final chapter tells us that the narrator was simply having a vivid dream; a dream of the heavenly places and choices that are set before us all, but a dream nonetheless. And as with any dream, some bits of the story remain quite vivid and real, other bits appear to slowly disappear into the fog, but the entire story lingers and brings us into conversation with questions that seem to hold some universal truth.

“Come out from under that fir tree – the season of Advent is here!”

Posted on by
Reply

Advent 1 (Luke 21:25-36)  12/02/2012

Listen to an audio recording <select here>

I imagine that many of us have special memories from our past, vivid memories that are so unforgettable the experience seems to have occurred only recently. One of my lasting memories happened when I was just a young boy, many years ago. As a young grade school student, I was allowed to go home to eat my lunch and then return back to school in the afternoon. My parents worked but I was fortunate that my grandparents lived just down the street and I was able to have lunch at their home …and grandmothers are known to spoil their grandchildren! I was quite happy until one day I was told that my grandparents would be going on a one week vacation and I would have to have lunch at a nearby neighbor’s house. The neighbor was a very good friend of my parents’ and a loving mother of three children. But I wanted no part of this new routine, even if the change was only for one week. The day of my new lunch location loomed in front of me until the day had finally come. I walked down the street and as I arrived in front of my neighbor’s house I saw her at the front door waving at me. My own house was just a bit further down the road and as I approached my neighbor’s front walk I decided to run as fast as I could to reach the comfort of my own home. My mother’s friend seemed to expect something funny might happen and in moments I noticed her quickly heading toward her bicycle. Now, a young boy running in canvas sneakers is no match for a determined mother riding a bicycle…and I quickly noticed a large fir tree in a neighbor’s yard. I crouched behind the large tree and hid myself behind the trunk and the green drooping branches. I tried to remain quiet as I watched her ride by me, calling my name and looking throughout the neighborhood. She returned in no time and suddenly stopped in front of the tree, looked through the branches and called for me to come out. I thought that I might “faint from fear and foreboding of what was coming.” (Luke 21:26a) Continue reading →

“All things made new through God’s redeeming Grace” – A celebration of All Saints’ Day

Posted on by
Reply

Sunday after All Saints’ Day (Revelation 21:1-6)  11/04/2012

Listen to an audio recording <select here>

I was glad to see the Halloween trick-or-treaters out this past Wednesday evening. The fun and innocence of young folks in costume is fun to watch and fun to share with others. Images of Halloween festivities remind us of a time when we shared in their innocence and lived in a time when the harsh realities of this world did not crowd our minds. The festivities of this Halloween were a happy change from last year’s terrible storm, but the disruptions of the recent storm felt here at St. John’s were a reminder that millions of people south of us were not as fortunate. The clashing images of happy young children in costume and the raw images of storm destruction were not lost on us, people who have lived through both experiences. But pictures of happy little trick-or-treaters take us back to a time, for some of us a distant time, but a time prior to having given way to the realization that the world is comprised of many complexities. As a young boy during the 1960s there were many worldly realities that I did not understand during that time. Among my first realizations of this turbulent period of American history was the return of my Uncle from a far away place called Vietnam. After his service as a US Marine he may have physically left the country of Vietnam, but the experience itself was not something that was easily left behind. His stories brought me to a growing awareness of this world and a new awareness of his journey through life, a journey that proved the difficulties of war cast a long shadow. And the images and experiences of this past hurricane have reminded us of the power of nature and have highlighted the truth that there are cosmic realities far greater than what we can control or even imagine. Life can point us in a direction that we had not anticipated; and on this holy day of All Saints we remember that in the midst of complexity and change we are anchored by those whom we love, and on this day we remember especially those whom we have loved and have gone to a place where we know not, a place we can only imagine. Continue reading →

“The discerning Blind Man sees clearly”

Posted on by
Reply

Pentecost 22 (Mark 10:46-52)  10/28/2012

Listen to an audio recording <select here>

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine and he mentioned that he hoped to soon walk the Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago (or the “Way of St. James” in English) is a walking pilgrimage that has been popular for centuries. I found my friend’s story very interesting, but not because of his desire to take up a pilgrimage (we all know many pilgrims in this very place of St. John’s Church – our J2A youth just recently returning from Belize). I found my friend’s story interesting because his interest in walking the Camino de Santiago is the third or fourth mention of this pilgrimage I have heard in the past few weeks. Over these weeks, as I have heard the name of this pilgrimage repeated time and again, I have taken notice because repetition holds a particular meaning all to itself. The Bible regularly uses repetition, with stories of great significance being told over and over again. Repetition brings the story to the forefront of one’s mind, calling for special attention in the midst of the vast amount of information we encounter daily. This process of sifting is called “discernment” and discernment is a practice for everyone, not just pilgrims or people with a special concern. My friend’s story prompted me to think about the significance of this ancient walking pilgrimage. The Camino de Santiago started more than one thousand years ago and remains popular today. The earliest pilgrims started their journey from their homes and walked several hundred miles to the legendary burial place of St. James the Apostle, located in northwest Spain. Whether St. James is actually buried where legend says he is buried is not of the greatest significance, for the sacred way of this pilgrimage has long transcended any historical truth. During the many days of walking the Way of St. James, pilgrims meet others on their journey and they experience things they have never known before, and come to know themselves in new and unknown ways. Many share their stories in books, or blogs, or travel guides in an effort to help future discerning people come to know themselves in new and unknown ways. The process of sorting through all their experiences, this process called discernment, is an important element of dealing with so many stories, so many experiences. Discernment is the key to unlocking the mystery of all the stories and messages we receive; messages that urge us to stretch beyond the limits of our current understandings and expectations. Continue reading →

“Was Milton right about free will: the choice of every lost soul – ‘better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven’ – C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce”

Posted on by
Reply

C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce – chapters 8 – 11

Lewis’ tale of fantasy continues with more characters and many, many more questions for us to consider. Throughout these chapters Lewis takes up the important questions of free will (can the ghostly people actually stay in the land of Bright Spirits or must they return to the bus); is God full of love for everyone (or are the ghostly people condemned to return to the bus and their brief trip is a vehicle of torment); and how can one gather courage to walk in to the land of brightness (the journey appears to be impossible). And many more questions that continue to bubble up through and between the lines of Lewis’ wonderful story. Continue reading →

“The humbling challenges of approaching God – ‘Thinking of going back?’: C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce”

Posted on by
Reply

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis; chapters 4-7.

Previous chapters of Lewis’ tale have successfully brought us to a fantastical world of bright spirits and unimaginable beauty, but now the shadowy figures of the dimly lit Town must leave the bus and find their way in to this strange and wonderful new world…easier said than done. We meet different ghostly characters in each successive chapter, each with their own restrictions and flaws that serve as boundaries to the bright land beyond the bus. Continue reading →

“In the midst of change, all things are being made new”

Posted on by
Reply

Pentecost 19 (Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12)  10/07/2012

Listen to an audio recording <select here>

A few days ago the morning paper provided a map of the coming fall colors, with the peak times for each section of southern New England. The map reminded me that we are in the midst of change; the change from summer to fall. But change in our lives is certainly not limited to the seasons or to the colors of the leaves on the trees. This weekend we observe Columbus Day, a curious holiday celebrating the “discovery” of a land that had been inhabited for thousands of years. But regardless of how one might define discovery, Columbus’ voyage certainly marked the beginning of significant change for both Native Americans and Europeans alike. And this morning we remember St. Francis and his abundant love for every part of God’s creation. This year we remember that all creatures are blessed by God’s love and grace by bringing our beloved pets to church for a blessing during the morning service. We are truly surrounded by change! Some of these changes are expected and beautiful (like the fall colors of the leaves); some of these changes are fun and exciting or perhaps a little peculiar (like pets in the church nave); and some of these changes create lifelong and historic alterations to the way we live our lives (like Europeans arriving on the shores of the Americas). Change can be exciting; change can be unsettling; change can leave us bothered and bewildered. Change comes in many varieties and in many colors; every change is not always beneficial but change often marks the path of progress; change points toward the road that leads us to discover new things, new realities, and new ways of being. Continue reading →

“Leaving the empty comfort of Self: C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce”

Posted on by
Reply

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis; chapters 1-3

C.S. Lewis’ story of fantasy in The Great Divorce is a rich and twisted tale of leaving the dismal yet comforting world of self in an effort to trust others, and especially trust God, and take the necessary changes to break-out from one’s world of self and enter the love of God. The tale is a story of Good and Evil; a tale of Heaven and Hell, but a believable tale where the greatest evil is wrapped in apathy and selfishness, which makes the story all the more believable…and therefore frightening.

In the Preface of his book, Lewis sets the stage for the journey that will be told in his story; a journey of striving toward God’s glory, the holy “working out” of one’s salvation. For those who have sought the Reign of God and have finally come to know the glory of God at their journey’s end, of them Lewis writes, “in that sense it will be true for those who have completed the journey (and for no others) to say that good is everything and Heaven everywhere. But we, at this end of the road, must not try to anticipate that retrospective vision. If we do, we are likely to embrace the false and disastrous converse and fancy that everything is good and everywhere is Heaven.” (preface, pg. IX) Lewis’ insight and warning to those of us still making our earthly journey is an important and humbling message that needs to be heard now more than ever.

Chapters 1 and 2 are devoted to descriptions of a dingy town that we will learn little about, other than it is a dismally comforting place; a place where anyone’s bleak expectations can be fulfilled with merely a wish. The story’s action quickly centers around the bus station as the dingy town’s inhabitants wait for a magical bus. The line is quite long, but tension and disagreement among the group quickly thin the line to just half the bus’ capacity. The bus’ arrival to the bright and strange new land beyond reveals the true images of the travelers aboard the bus…and the revelations are unsettling!

Chapter 3 provides an introduction to the new land beyond the dingy town and we soon understand that this must be Heaven. Everything is quite different and nothing can compare to the dingy town, but the differences can become overwhelming and we watch as many of the travelers retreat to the safety of the bus. For those brave enough to press forward, they huddle together as the people of this land approach. They are people who can only be described as those filled with a great light whose appearance was very grand and seemingly ageless. “One gets glimpses…of that which is ageless – heavy thought in the face of an infant, and frolic childhood in that of a very old man.” The wisdom, joy and light of those things eternal and close to God fill this place beyond the dingy town with wonders that Lewis will explore in the remainder of his tale.

“‘Evil can be undone, but it cannot develop into good.’ C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce”

Posted on by
Reply

The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis

Over the course of the next few weeks, C.S. Lewis’ classic book will be examined in preparation for a book review at the end of October. The subject of Good vs. Evil, Heaven vs. Hell, is a subject that can fill bookshelves and yet defy an overwhelming conclusion. Like Lewis himself, we will through caution to the wind and jump in to the deep-end of this subject, using his journey through both Heaven and Hell as our guide.

Lewis describes his intention for The Great Divorce in its Preface, stating that his work will bring the reader on a journey that is quite intentionally a fantasy, but a fantasy with a moral. Lewis clearly presents his case that good and evil are available to all; and with evil seemingly lurking around the next corner the choice for the good is an intention that requires personal attention and faithful (and courageous) practice. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words of encouragement to the Philippians, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12b-13) We are not alone, for “it is God who is at work in you” but we are not passively waiting for some external improvement…no reclining back like we are at the dentist’s office waiting for the pearly white crown to be placed over the ugliness of what lies beneath; this is the real road of discipleship.

Lewis makes us want to pursue that road by ensuring that the wisdom of the journey will bring us into God’s presence. He writes that for those who have sought the Reign of God and have finally come to know the glory of God at the journey’s end, their wisdom can be only known from the journey’s far end: “In that sense it will be true for those who have completed the journey (and for no others) to say that good is everything and Heaven everywhere. But we, at this end of the road, must not try to anticipate that retrospective vision. If we do, we are likely to embrace the false and disastrous converse and fancy that everything is good and everywhere is Heaven.” (Preface, pg. IX)

And so our journey with C.S. Lewis through both Heaven and Hell begins and his insights of good vs. evil through his story of fantasy promises to enlighten us in the days ahead. As Paul prayed for the Philippians, so we pray, “that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.” (Phil 1:9-11)