A Spiritual, Intellectual and Life Earth Quake: Mission to and Return from Haiti

It's been a month now since my return from Haiti (hence, my lack of blog posts). Returning from a place like Haiti can certainly send one's mind into a spin. While in Haiti I felt like my heart and mind were caught on fire about questions concerning poverty, oppression, justice, and our common responsibility to one another as human beings. It is like my political, economic, social, ethical and religious consciousness have undergone an "earthquake." I don't think I'll ever see the world the same again. At least I hope not.

I'm not quite sure what all this will mean or how I am being changed by God in the middle of all this. But, I know I am being changed, and while it is painful at times, I am glad for it. I feel newly connected to things that are meaningful and connected to the real situation of the world (clean water, sanitation, children's education, community and economic development,etc.). Are you surprised theology is not in there? Well, theology (and the remaking of my theology in relationship to a living and dynamic God who is active and present in the world) is at the root of all of this. Why was I in Haiti? Because of my theology. I believe in the Missio Dei and the Trinitarian Externality of God's movement toward all of creation, humanity and particularly the poor and marginalized (read the Gospel of Luke). And why do I feel a call to be connecting to Haiti through The Incarnation Project*? It is because of renewed, dynamic and living theology, and the love God that I feel b being birthed in my heart for the Haitian people. God has called me to consider what it means for all to be One in Christ. What else can I do but stay connected with this calling which is deeply about loving people through getting them clean water, sanitation, education and a sustainable community.

*What is the Incarnation Project?

The Incarnation Project is a partnership of Episcopal Churches in the United States (St. Christopher's - Pensacola FL, Holy Nativity - Panama City, St. Mary Magdalene - Kansas City MO, St. Thomas the Apostle - Kansas City, KS) working collaboratively to assist the Church and School of the Incarnation in Le Pretre Haiti with the purpose of assisting the people of Le Pretre in establishing a self-sustaining community through education. Clean water, sanitation, support education and the buildings to carry out such education are key priorities of the project.

The Antithesis of Matthew 5: An Invitation to Growth in Grace and a Community of Wholeness

Jesus offers the antithesis of Matthew 5 (vs. 21-48 - 6 antithesis: murder, adultry, unnecessary divorce, oath swearing, retaliation, and enemy hating) to get at the root of what causes these broken ways of relating to others to enter into our lives. He is not merely seeking to convict us of our brokeness in effort to have us run into the arms of an merciful God (although this is an adequate reponse!). This is not simmply about conviction, mercy and justification. No, he is calling us to live lives that are beyond our current ability to live and is calling us to ask for God’s grace to enable us to grow in grace. The Sermon on the Mount is a call to enter into an ongoing transformation of the "heart". Here we have an invitation to enter into the process of learning how to live lives characterized by right and good relationship with others.

The antithesis are a call to grow in grace. They call us to pray for God's grace to help us live a life that is beyond our natural ability to live. And so, let us pray: may God help us move from: (1) anger, to love, (2) from lust, to respect and right relationship, (3) manipulative relationships, to mutual love and care, (3) to swearing of oaths and signing contracts claiming power and rights, to open, trusting, whole relationships where we have faith in one another’s integrety, words and intentions. May God help us, by grace, to move from: (5) retalitation, to disproporiate acts of humility and service, (6) hatred of our enemies, to  an "unnatural-othercentered-upsidedown-agape" way of life. May we grow in grace from broken relationships  with ourselves and with others, and be made whole persons who live in community of wholeness. 

The antithesis are an invitation to enter into the process of such a transformation, as well as a call to live in a a communal way of life that  is made possible only by growth in God's grace.  

Welcome to One Logos

"One Logos" - why the title of this blog? The title of this blog is born out of the belief that at the root of all that is Good, True and Beautiful there is one central reality being reflected - the One Logos, the One Word ("logos" being the transliteration of the Greek for "word" or "reason"). Central to my Christian faith is the believe that there is a One to which all things point. I once heard it said by a person much wiser than I, "Any story well told ultimately serves the One." This blog will comment on many different subjects, issues and events. But, ultimately, regradless of its reflections and musings, underneath it all I hope to catch glimpses of, offer reflections upon, the One Logos.

Why one more blog? Aren't there enough already? Well, sure there are plenty of blogs to choose from. And where they speak of what is Good, True and Beautiful they are a reflection of the One Logos as well. I encourage you: "Pick up and read!"

But, each reflection has it own unique contribution to offer. Each strand of a beautiful tapistry is needed to reveal the awe and wonder of the woven image. My strand offered? That of an Episcopal parish priest in south Kansas City with a passion to see the church live out a life that is engaging, relevant, healthy, vibrant, and that reflects and shares the Light of Christ in the world.

A central question for me and this blog: from my finite, incarnated/embodied existance - from my point on the map of time, space, and context - where do I see the One Logos at play, at work in the world? Will each post ask this question directly? No. And they need not to. But, where what is said points to what is Good, True and Beautiful in the world, then I hope we'll see the One at play. May it be so...