Ancient Wisdom

"An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics," Plutarch reminds us. The connection between moral and political action is ancient indeed. Hear the Tao:

The Master doesn't talk, (s)he acts.
When the work is done,
the people say,
"Amazing, we did it all by ourselves!"

What Goes Around

As I write the Bishops of the Anglican Communion gather for their decenniel Lambeth conference. These are the leaders of the world's 78 million Anglicans, of which the Episcopal Church is the U. S. representative. Folks have been deeply divided over the ordination of the Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, a homosexual living in a partnered relationship. The howl that has come particularly from former missionary territories in Africa, the Carribbean and to some degree, South America has been as deafening as it is deafened. I want to remind folks that these intolerant and, to some degree, mean, responses may well be the fruit of a missionary strategy of the past two centuries. Two elements of that strategy are coming back to bite us. First, we were imperialists. The church went along with the methods and attitudes of the British and American empires. This led us to a faulty strategy which told the world's poorer nations, "come and be like us." Rather than listening to these worlds, we "told" them. Worse than that, we sent our second string team into the fray. The first string got all of the prestigious cures in the first world. So, we got theologies that resemble some of the worst of our own worlds thinking. So now, we have breakaway provinces who are busy exhibiting some of the most unanglican theology who hold sway in parts of the communion.

Listening is a first step for the first world. What are these folks trying to tell us? How can we hear an ecclesiology that is steeped in hierarchy and conformity? These are the same challenging questions we face in our nation with the evangelical and fundamental community. It might be good to start listening here, even as we set our sights on hearing our own brothers and sisters from across the globe. But listening is not abandonment of our own identity. It is finding common ground from which a church can be renewed. Like the exasperated grandmother said to parents of the errant child, "That kid needs a good listening to!"

I think that rebelling bishops will tell us about the failures of our world missionary strategy. Then perhaps, we might begin to make a new start. I have in mind a chapter in Ivan Illich's book, The Church Change and Development, entitled "Letter to an American Missionary." There Illich develops a missionary stance based on affirming the good sense and integrity of native forms, that seeks to live into a different way of life without constant one upping, talking too much rather than "hearing" with the deepest ear. I am not surprised that third world Anglicans cannot listen when we say that God is doing a new thing with us. Listening is not what we taught when we communicated the faith.

Think about it.

Take My Car, Please

The traffic on Michigan Highway 78 crossing in front of the house has reduced to a slow trickle, the result of burgeoning gasoline prices. It sure makes things a lot quieter here at Cousins Island. We are just beginning to see the dramatic effects of automotive expense. Everyone is talking about it. Airline travel is getting more expensive. The sale of scooters has skyrocketed 40% in the past month. Public transportation has mushroomed. Summer vacations are taking place close to home. Second homes are visited far less often, if at all. I am sure you can add your own.

The mystique of distance is fast receding as travel costs rise. Where we are going to feel these effects even more going forward. For congregations and those who nurture the spiritual life, the news is surprisingly good. The bane of American religion has been the rise of superficial, look alike membership. Churches have come to resemble clubs of like minded folk, like our neighborhoods. As costs increase, people will be be considering costs over community makeup in their job and living arrangements. It may be that one will not drive quite so far to be surrounded with like minded individuals. Mixed communities may emerge from the present crisis as some return home.

Congregations will be challenged by the increasing diversity of their membership. We will learn to recognize and value that we are in intimate communities with those with whom we disagree. Families, too, will need a broader perspective to accommodate that offending brother in law who now lives next door! Managing “close in” relationships will encourage dialogue on a level more spiritual, deeper than mere ideology. This is as much an opportunity as it will be arduous spiritual labor.

Congregations, as well, will be challenged by the down side of gas pricing. More of us will be in need of energy subsidy, food supplement. The poor will suffer. We will be challenged to dig deeply to respond to these needs.

On the whole, rising energy costs presents opportunity to those who are concerned to maintain the fabric of our communities. Maybe people of good will will benefit by worship with those who differ with them. Difference is one sign of authentic spiritual community. Maybe gas prices will deliver us from look alikeism and conformity in faith communities.

Real life is never only difficult or easy, but a more mixed picture. “Take my car, please,” has gifts to offer.

Toxic Narcissism

There is a growing undercurrent of narcissism in the United States. It has always been with us. Foreign visitors have noted its presence since Alexis de Toqueville. In general, our exalted impression of ourselves has been a strength. Sometime in the middle of the last century, professionals made a living designing ways to harness our narcissism for commercial gain. The advertising industry was born. It has been marvelously effective, too effective. Modern Americans have internalized the subtext, “it is all here for you.” Since our attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq, our self regard has taken a spiritually toxic turn.

We attended the fourth of July parade in Richland, today. It had all of the usual tractors, antique cars, fire equipment, marching bands and combines. Richland’s parade has a running commentator, blasting his message on speakers up and down the parade route. The returning theme of the commentary was that parade members were here to “keep me safe.” This is the new narcissism. It is all about my safety. This virulent strain is not safe. For the guardians of the new narcissism are not simply friendly merchants and manufacturers, but military types, people bearing weapons.

In a way, our individualism has worked well for us. It has been the source of our vital inventiveness, among other things. This new form of national narcissism promises spiritual evisceration, and worse. It bears eerie resemblance to the lethal spectacles of the Axis regimes, behind which the Holocaust lurked and against which millions fought in the last World War. The new narcissism, with its overbearing conformity of public events, in its hymnody, creeds and anthems, are creating a spiritual hollowness. "Keeping us safe," is not good for us. It may be the deepest meaning of Independence day to resist such protection.