John Lustrea & Mike Murphy-episode 238
John Lustrea and Mike Murphy join me once again to discuss a set of Mike Murphy’s Rumblings. We discuss the ones from 8/7/20. We talk about ritual and intention in life, protesting during the national anthem, decision makers and faith leaders as well as all those making impossible decisions about the start of a new school year.
We mentioned the Frederick Douglas Historic Home, and an article about Meyers Leonard and the NBA.
Find Mike here – Facebook
Find John here – National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Mike’s Rumblings from 8/7/20
See this on Facebook
Rumblings.8.7.20
1. I’m drawn to decision makers willing to prepare us, not for the world that used to be, but rather for the world that is unfolding before us. I’m growing weary of leaders eager to rush us back to a ‘normal’ that no longer exists.
It’s particularly discouraging watching pastors using ‘coming back to church’ as the true measure of what a ‘faithful life’ looks like. Some even use ‘faith’ as the magic wand that’s going to protect them and their flock from the virus. It’s sinful what they are doing. They’re turning God into a trinket deity and putting people at risk.
Faith leaders I admire aren’t asking God to do tricks and not using ‘coming back’ as the litmus test of authentic faith. Instead, they are ministering to their people in amazing ways and considering the health restraints we’re under and will be under for a while, are doing a bang-up job.
2. Being mostly retired demands constructing a meaningful routine. My day starts with reading Heather Cox Richardson, good chunks of WAPO, NYT, and the Sarasota Herald Tribune. That’s followed by a devotional time, then exercise.The day ends with prayer, journaling, and listening to music. The in between time is filled with conversations with Anita, meeting with spiritual direction clients, reading, watching news programs, maybe a nap, errands, keeping up with friends, twiddling my thumbs, etc..
All this helps keep me sane. It’s enough structure but not too much. It’s actually a Benedictine construct stressing a healthy rhythm of prayer, work, relationships, and rest. It works.
3.In recent days as the national anthem played, many professional athletes knelt, while others stood. Reasons for either standing or kneeling were hashed out by teammates and coaches in what must have been somewhat intense but fruitful discussions. That’s as it should be in America. Perhaps this is a sign that our understanding of patriotism is maturing a bit and that matters of justice are being more thoughtfully considered.
4.”We shall come one day to a heaven where we shall gratefully know that God’s great refusals were sometimes the true answers to our truest prayers.” ~ P.T. Forsythe, The Soul of Prayer
“O Lord, you know what is best for me. Give what you will, how much you will, and when you will.”~ Thomas à Kempis
“Come, come, whoever you are.
Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving—it doesn’t matter.
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times.
Come, and come yet again, come, come.”~ Rumi
5. What would happen if we actually believed that being in the presence of God is the ‘more’ we’ve been searching for?
6.John Lewis’s funeral reminded me that those who manage to live with a functioning moral compass are the real difference makers.
7. Trevor Noah said he had predicted the trajectory of Trump’s time in office several years ago when he compared the president to an African dictator. “People acted like I was crazy, but this is how it starts…First, they just suggest that maybe you postpone the election, then they suggest that some of the votes are not valid, and pretty soon they’re saying, ‘You know what’s really unfair? That there are two political parties. Why are there two political parties? Let’s just have one. Then, you don’t have to worry about making all these decisions anymore.” ~ NY Times
…
Last week Trump announced he was pulling troops out of Germany which was a petty act, disturbing to all our allies, and is being looked at as a tip of the hat to Putin, a dictator.
Not good.
Even more troubling, was his dog whistle announcement alerting white suburban folks that they need not worry any longer about poor and/or people of color moving into their neighborhood with the help of a government subsidy. With a stroke of the pen he was delivering them from the horror of that possibility.
Really not good.
And let’s not forget his ongoing assertion that making it easier for people to vote will not be of benefit to him and other Republicans. Thus his opposition to mail in voting, except in Florida, where he thinks it might be helpful to him.
Ah, he hit the ‘not good’ trifecta.
Lord, deliver us from this evil.
8.“Wherever there is something in our life that is not conformed to the image of Christ, there is a place where we are incapable of being all God wants us to be with others … a place where our life with others is hindered and limited and restricted in its effectiveness and in its fullness … a place where our life will tend to become disruptive and even destructive to others. We can never be all God wants us to be with others as long as that point of unlikeness to the image of Christ exists within us.” ~ M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.
I stand convicted.
9. More than ever what we say and how we say it matters. It’s the thoughtful word, the considered response, and the clarifying question that wins the day.
10.My daughter is a school superintendent. She loves her job. She loves the people she serves with and is always saying wonderful things about the students in her district and their parents. These days talking with her is sobering. The choices available to her as the school year approaches are difficult. None will fully please everyone. Perhaps it behooves us all to pray for all those in education who are carrying staggering weights upon their shoulders. There is so much at stake. So many valid yet competing concerns are in play.
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