Kindness A Soul Can Cling To

REFLECTIONS
March 7, 2010

We seem to live in a time and space where food, fashion, and fitness have become part of a new religion. This is not to say health isn’t important, it most certainly is. In an Associate Press article, writer Mark Sherman cited recent studies by the Journal of American Medicine, The Center For Disease Control and The Rand Corporation having found that in American culture obesity has nearly replaced smoking as the number one preventable cause of death. The article quotes Health and Human Services Secretary, Tommy Thompson recently, “We’re just too darn fat, ladies and gentleman, and we’re going to do something about it.” What is planned is a national campaign to educate people to eat more healthy food and less unhealthy food and to exercise more.

Another point of the article was that Congress is considering legislation to prevent obese Americans from suing the fast food industry for their condition, and the McDonald’s corporation ending the promotion of “Supersizing” fries and drinks. On the other side of this issue are recent studies which have shown that people can be both fat and fit and civil rights groups which claim discrimination against over-weight people in business and industry.

Which brings us to Isaiah 55:1-9. This passage is part of a segment found in third Isaiah where acting as the mouthpiece of God seeks to comfort the people in exile. This passage is an invitation to a banquet. Verse two is particularly interesting, “Harken diligently unto me and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness.” Of course, lest we rush to the refrigerator, scholars tell us that the text is replete with metaphoric and symbolic language.

The food offered at this feast would be the spiritual variety. A sip of care, a bite of hope, a morsel of justice, the bread of loving kindness. The people were under extreme pressure and the prophet offers the spiritual refreshment which is necessary for faith to endure and grow. In essence the prophet is saying feast on the goodness of God, may your spirit be nourished by encountering the Holy.

During Lent, fasting can be part of the faith journey in our tradition. Another practice is refraining from eating favorite foods during the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Over the years I’ve given up cake, ice cream and soda pop. However, after considering Isaiah’s text I had a vision of a hot fudge sundae. It seemed quite spiritual to me.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91601

Be Somebody Because You Are

REFLECTIONS
February 28, 2010

I have a colleague (now retired) whose father was a well known minister in another part of the country. My friend said he struggled with a sense of call, and then one day while on a college retreat, he became certain of his call by God to become a minister. On his next trip home he went to his father and told him of his call and his dad said, “Son do anything else if you can.” When my colleague shared this story, a fair number of those in the room did not understand why his father wasn’t overjoyed. Then the man said, “He simply wanted me to be sure, for if I wasn’t, the heartbreak would be devastating spiritually.” Like his father this fellow was an active Methodist minister for nearly five decades.

Isaiah 6:1-6, (9-13) is the call of Isaiah. There is somewhat of a formulae for the calling of an individual by God. God contacts either through angels or in person. The person demurs saying they cannot do what God is asking. This short list is: I’m too old, or young, I’m a woman, or I don’t speak well. For Isaiah, it is that he is one of ‘unclean lips,’ meaning he is a resolute sinner. The final action in the call involves God touching the person literally or spiritually and then reemphasizing the holy claim upon them. In this passage the lips of the prophet are touched and make him clean and thus worthy of becoming a mouthpiece for God.

To serve God is a tremendous gift, but the burden of such service is an individual awareness of human limitations while engaged in the work of so called holy thought and action. It is no wonder that to be called takes some convincing. For we all have our share of fears and doubts. The French author, Anatole France said of fears limiting our efforts; “To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” As for our limitations and shortcomings the late Sir Winston Churchill said it best with the phrase, “We are all worms, but I do believe I am a glow-worm.” The message therein, be it a call from God, a word from Isaiah, or thought provoking aphorisms from world leaders or artists is straightforward and direct. Be somebody, because we already are. Whether we feel like it or not in the name of love with potential and hope beyond measure we are each and every one of us, somebody.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601