Have a Little Faith, Additional Resources
Peace be with you this beautiful fall weekend in late September. It has been a week filled with distressing events reported on the daily news, rising Cov-id numbers, and the palpable anxiety that seems to be pervading the simplest of conversations as the phrase ‘second wave’ enters our vocabulary. Still, the extravagant loveliness of the autumn season is not to be denied, a reminder that life is a moving tapestry, filled with contradictions, mystery, and always, when we have eyes to see, even in the midst of sorrow, delight. And delight, you may recall Rabbi Heshel teaching, is atmosphere of Sabbath. And any time you are listening to this podcast, you have found yourself in Sabbath time.
It has been said repeatedly, that the only thing that is constant is change. A truth to be sure, but it is not so much fun to be living through a time when nothing seems to be holding steady, when daily the landscape shifts in surprising ways, revealing ways, and planning more than a week in advance is a thing of the past. But under it all, there are the constants that never leave us. There is the desire to connect one with another, in whatever way that is possible. There is the desire for life, and the fullness of life that makes for rich experience. There is the desire to avoid the inevitable fragility of being human, knowing we are but tissue paper wrapped up in a ribbon of hope, and perhaps, courage. There is the desire to love, to be touched by love, and all the many ways it pours forth into the world.
Now is the time to have faith in these things, in one another, in the mercy of God, and the endless embrace of the world. Be still, and know that God is God, and all is in its place. It is only we who are out of step, and must adjust the lens of our viewing.
Call to Worship
Edited Version of ‘Howl’ by Allen Ginsberg
Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy!
The world is holy! The soul is holy! The skin is holy! The nose is holy! ………
Everything is holy! everybody’s holy! everywhere is holy! every day is in eternity! Everyman’s an angel!
The bum’s as holy as the seraphim! the madman is holy as you my soul are holy!
The typewriter is holy the poem is holy the voice is holy the hearers are holy the ecstasy is holy!
Holy my mother in the insane asylum!
Holy the groaning saxophone! Holy the bop apocalypse! Holy the jazz bands marijuana hipster’s peace peyote pipes & drums!
Holy the solitudes of skyscrapers and pavements! Holy the cafeterias filled with the millions! Holy the mysterious rivers of tears under the streets!
Holy the vast lamb of the middleclass! Holy the crazy shepherds of rebellion!
Holy forgiveness! mercy! charity! faith! Holy! Ours! bodies! suffering! magnanimity!
Holy the supernatural extra brilliant intelligent kindness of the soul!
John David Williams, Alan Mackie, Emilyn Stam, and Nathan Smith
Spiritual Practice
Anything that is done with intention and love, with a desire to dig down to the deeper places, to reach out in understanding to others, can be a spiritual practice. All the arts, whether we are participating in their creation or receiving the gifts they offer, grant opportunities for spiritual practice. Bruce and I experienced this last Sunday, finding deep renewal sitting in the fresh air, listening to live music - traditional music - music passed down many generations by those who loved what they did - singing, playing, dancing.
With the pandemic continuing to press upon us, it is hard to get out and support musicians and artists, but we may at the least recognize their great contribution to the richness of life and send them blessings and good will, that they may spend this extended time without being able to perform on creative endeavours that will serve us all in days to come.
Our artists, our storytellers, our dreamers - we are all indebted to them. Take some time this week to think on artists you know personally and see how you may reach out to let them to they know the importance of their work. We would be lost without them.
Here below are a few links from the musicians that gifted us with their talents last Sunday, and in today’s podcast as well: Nathan Smith, Emilyn Stam, John David Williams and Alan Mackie.
Emilyn Stam, John David Williams and Alan Mackie perform two original schottisches in Toronto, Canada, summer 2019. Video by Reenie Perkovic and sound by David Woodhead.
Emilyn Stam, John David Williams, Alan Mackie: Fern’s Hill, Hannah’s Crown
An original song about a reluctant mariner! This song serves as a reminder to myself to always take risks. Even though things may not go as planned, it's always better to face fears and take action. From a musical standpoint, the song is also a tribute to my love of the Canadian Maritimes. (Nathan Smith) Video by Caleb J Smith Media
Scripture Tethered to Today
“Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue.” Deut.16:20
When Ruth Bader was a teenager, her mother, Celia, died of cancer just two days shy of Ruth’s graduation from high school. In keeping with Jewish custom in those days, only men could be counted as part of a minyan or quorum - so Ruth wasn’t allowed to pray the mourner’s prayer for her mother (a rule since changed in both Reform and Conservative Judaism). Ruth was both heartbroken and outraged - and as a result, felt alienated from synagogue membership for much of the rest of her life.
The Bible, however, remained a lifelong touchstone of insight and inspiration. Throughout her childhood, her mother regaled her with biblical stories of “women of valor,” heroes who were ambitious, wise, and successful. Ruth drank deeply from these stories, learning them by heart. . . .
An official portrait of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2016. (Photo courtesy of Creative Commons)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was shaped by her minority faith
Ginsburg, who died Friday, was passionate about Judaism’s concern for justice. By Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service, September 21, 2020, Broadview
A phrase from the Book of Deuteronomy hangs framed on the wall of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court chamber: “Justice, justice you shall pursue.”
For Ginsburg, who died at home surrounded by her family on Friday evening (Sept. 18) at the age of 87, the phrase from the Hebrew Bible, “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” summed up perfectly her calling as jurist and a Jew.
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