LET US WELCOME THE BEAUTY AROUND US

This is the August newsletter column:

Having spent most of my life living in a rural setting, I have always been pleasantly surprised by the abundant wildlife within the city limits. I’ve been known to pull over and watch a red-headed woodpecker seeking its breakfast or a territorial spat between a blue jay and a cardinal. I have especially enjoyed the hummingbirds that come to admire themselves in the mirrored glass of the parish office door and the red-throated lizards that puff up in the bush outside the office window. Baby rabbits and even a shy little mouse have been crouched near the flowers along the walk as I leave in the afternoon. Other favorites include the turtle dove who has made her nest in the light fixture above the main entrance to the Narthex and the two nests of ground snakes living in the remembrance garden, under the protection of St. Francis. I’ve heard rumors they have cousins behind the Garrett-Hall Building, but I must admit, I don’t make it out there often enough to have personal knowledge of the wildlife on that part of the property.

I find it reassuring that despite urban sprawl, God’s creatures have found places to create their homes. They continue to live their simple lives surrounded by the bustle of mankind. We could learn a lesson from them. They have adapted to the changing world. They retain their identity and work around the obstacles placed before them in their quest for survival. As Christians we must also live in a changing world, while working to maintain our identity.

One of the greatest strengths of the Episcopal Church is the fact that we welcome all. And we do so, despite the world around us that wishes to force us into their view of Christianity, telling us to only allow a membership of people who are, “like us,” or who are free of sin. However, if we were free of sin, there wouldn’t be a need for the Church, would there? As the world changes, we will not allow ourselves to be pulled into the trap of bigotry and hatred that some pass off as Christianity. We will maintain our identity, following the examples Jesus set, welcoming all into our membership. And that will keep us strong.

Just as the blue jay and the cardinal offer no apologies for their existence, we have no need to apologize for ours. We should be comfortable in our identity and proud to share our beliefs through our actions in welcoming others…in welcoming all.

The moral of the story

Just as if I had grown up in a good Jewish household, my family taught by allegory and story—much like the parables of the New Testament. As a result, my daughter has learned that just about anything in her life could be the jumping point for education. Most recently she has been subjected to the morality tales hidden in many of the stories of Greek Mythology. She started out by enjoying a game of Poptropica with me on the computer. The online world takes children to fantasy places, often based on history or mythology. Links within the game take the child to sites where they can learn the real-life story associated with the characters, places, or events in the games.

The game she is currently playing teaches her about the ancient Greek gods. She showed such interest that we incorporated the television show, “Hercules, the Legendary Journeys,” into our regular family activities. After the show we frequently discuss the differences between the legends as they have been handed down and the story depicted in the television series.

I was struck by the common theme running throughout the show, wondering just how much the current beliefs of the writers and directors have influenced the central characters. In several episodes our hero, known for his strength and might, refuses to fight. He opts, instead, for the non-violent answer, telling his antagonist that he refuses to hurt others for someone’s pleasure. Invariably someone whines, “But you promised to fight for us,” to which Hercules responds, “No, I promised to help.” Hercules doesn’t knuckle under to peer-pressure—he always does what he knows to be right, despite demands to give in. Sounds to me like the Hercules of the television is based more on the Son of God than on the son of Zeus.

This is among my favorite morals: when someone asks for assistance, they don’t always immediately realize that the answer to their prayer has arrived. We sometimes see only one possible solution or conclusion. We need to be open-minded enough to recognize that others exist—and often the best answer is the one that hurts the least number of people.