Listening

"Meditate on These Things"

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply."

 

Stephen Covey

Presence/Presents

"The intimacy that exists between soul and body is a marvel of creation and a mystery of human existence. Yet we do wrong to think, because the soul will be judged after death while the body crumbles in the grave, that this mortal handful of dust is any less a gift of God, any less noble or beautiful than the immortal soul. It is in the body that we exist and work out our salvation. It is in the body that we see and take delight in the beauties of God's created universe, and in the body that we ourselves bear the marks of Christ's passion. The mysterious interplay of body and soul is an essential characteristic of our human nature...

 (Furthermore) Theologians have written about the Incarnation as the central act of our redemption, the high point in the drama of salvation history... what we tend to forget , though, is the very folky truth that God by his Incarnation took on a human body (Ciszek, He Leadth Me).  It is true. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God... the Word was God... And that Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only True Son, full of grace and truth (John 1)"... The Word became Flesh - what a glorious mystery! I have been reflecting on the passage from John for sometime. One day I realized that in a similar manner in which when God spoke things happened (Let there be light - there was light, Let there be man - there was man.. with it heighted to His very Word becoming Incarnate God) as a Christian, I ought to let my words produce real, tangible fruit... I must become 'Christ' for others. It is so easy to saying nice things; sitting around talking about what needs to be done; talking about how my brother isn't doing 'this or that'; read a good inspiring book... while being 'Christ' for others means putting siding on an elderly lady's trailer; making dinner for a random group of college students; taking the mail out for Grandma; looking someone in the eye and helping them feel like a person. It is action. Some have said, "Love does" God in His love, allowed His Word to create a glorious mystery - that is the Word become Flesh! From whose fullness, we have received grace by grace! This is the quintessential act, covering all people, for all time...

I am challenged! I realize the going gets sticky like the rich brown molasses that ends up sticking up the whole rim rather than making it into the delicious ginger snaps; the doing happens less often than more; action takes time and energy that doesn't serve the self... How am I to bring my words, my body, myself (physical) ... so they are transformed into 'Christ' for my brother, sister or neighbor? "The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh weak". "Truly, man is a creature composed of body and soul, and we work out our salvation in this vale of tears through  the medium of the flesh (Ciszek)". It is in the mystery of our humanness- body and soul, that we live, move and serve.

At midnight mass, my priest brought forth a challenge in his homily. That call was for us to gift people with our presence. He reminded us that in the same way God, came among humanity, fully man and fully God, to embrace us, His children and spill into us His grace so we ought to in our humanity with body and spirit embrace the person in others with our full presence. In a time of instant messaging, texting, email, Skype it is all too easy to overlook the people in our very midst. I am as guilty  as that hawk who swooped up our chicken in being physically in one place but mentally/heart-ally in another. This challenge pierced straight through my heart - be all present. Sounds easy... perhaps this is where I need to start with living out the gospel. Perhaps this is a tangible, ordinary way to acknowledge the person God created in another... perhaps it is a starting point... I want to let my presence be a present for those God would allow me to cross paths with... and that will only happen with being fully presence in the moment...day to day... ordinary life.

The Maasai and I

Your brown ear is pierced with the gap of a knife

Your black eyes twinkle with the life of a man

My wonder marks that of a white

Mine eyes wide with the awe of a women

Together we climbed

Brother and sister

The Maasai and I

We have seen a different picture

Your life in the sun kissed, deserty Savannah

Mine in the green hills of Appalachia

Yet together we climbed

Brother and sister

The Maasai and I

You stand, tall and high, with the Maasai

You love the blood of a bull, red and ripe

You, your father, mothers, brothers, sisters

In a land rich of tradition

Here I stand in the modernity of the West

Coupled by the simplicity of father

I love the bread of wheat and melted butter

Me, my father, Mama his only love, and their children

Yet together we climbed

Brother and sister

The Maasai and I

How we were brought together

Above the clouds, above the world

I do not know, a paradox – I know

Yet beautifully so

Together, climbing, encouraging

Hand in hand

Up the mountain climbed

The Maasai and I



A Dream, deep within

To surrender a precious dream is a fearful thing

A dream so beautiful, so wonderful

So mysterious

Causing human hearts to dance

To the rhythms of its music

Since the dawn of time

I held a dream, deep within

Hand in mine, mine in his

Climbing the peaks,

Picking wildflowers,

Tilling the land

Plucking the weeds

Drawing the sails

Riding into the sunset

A dream of hearts enmeshed

Hands locked, each finger entwined

Interrupted by young laughter

Wiggly little catalysts of life

Full of questions, “How hot is the sun?”

“What’s in the dark?”

I awoke harshly.

Cold sheets. Empty heart.

No hand near. No heartbeat other

Than that within

Let me dream, bring me back

Then suddenly I remembered

A peace deeper, a joy wider and

A grace fuller

My spirit overwhelmed, swept in awe

It caused my heart to dance wilder

The dream, from deep within

While yet mysterious, lovely and very good

Became a stinky pit, a slippery slope

In my dream I lost sight

Forgetting I AM

A comforting whisper, soft breeze

Piercing light awakened the spirit,

Shot through the bones,

“Today you are living. Today you find Life. Not in the distance of a dream

But in my Hands of Mercy.”

This reality, also a mystery, is so real

That one day all hearts will

Remember that dance

Stronger than earthy love.

~Anna  

2013

"To surrender a precious dream is a fearful thing, but to pursue anything but the full measure of the glory of God’s love is a wasted life.” –Joshua Eddy

"Let not your longings slay your appetite for living" - Elizabeth Elliot

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" - Jesus

A Call

"We are called to go out from the confines of our closed, entrenched communities, to transcend our prejudices, misgivings, and fears and to bear witness together--to the best of our abilities--to the risen Lord. We are called to meet our contemporaries where they are grappling with the most pressing problems. We must do this 'not to be conformed to this world' (Rom 12:2) but to help in its orientation towards the sacramental grace of the Church and the power of her truth. We must do this with earnest respect for the distinctiveness of every people and culture, for the freedom and dignity of each human being and with unfeigned love for the whole person. It is a matter of personal spiritual concern and not a political matter."



--Archbishop ANASTASIOS of Albania, Rediscovering Our Apostolic Identity in the 21st Century

Lesson from the Mountain

"The mountain beckons me to come

to greet the morning sky alone

what I thought was the top of the world

turned out to be the foot of His throne"

~Daddy

     

 

 

 Mt. Meru is a volcanic, sister mountain of Mt. Kilimanjaro found in the northeastern corner of Tanzania in a place now named Arusha National Park. This mountain rises above the clouds at an altitude of 14,977 ft, making it the 5th highest mountain in Africa. I was allowed the grand adventure of trekking this piece of God's country.

 

My group consisted of a young couple from Denmark and two guides - Deo (who has climbed Mt. Everest) and Steven (a Masai). However due to the potential danger of wild animals in the lower region my group was joined by several other groups accompanied by a ranger loaded with a simple shot gun. Up we walked through magnificent rain forest terrain -seeing fig trees, moss and monkeys. The air was fresh, crisp and cool with sunlight peaking through the dense vegetation.

 

On the second day of the trek, due to the energy received through mountain air and youth, Masai and I walked ahead of everyone else and climbed the mountain. Each turn in the trail shot an element of wonder through my bones. Never have I seen such beauty. I said, "Wow" so many times that Masai began imitating me, "wow". I told him once we summitted I won't be able to say anything due to awe. He just laughed.

Our climb lead through the clouds, then above in an almost alpine terrain... where I had my first glimpses of Mt. Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds. Some moments cannot be described in words only song. The song in my heart that whole climb was, "Heaven is a beautiful place. It brings a smile to my face to know someday Heaven will be my resting place."

 

For summitting generally a group will climb in the dark and then watch the morning's sunrise. Masai knew that I enjoy nature without many people so we summitted that afternoon. The last 1.5 miles had a 3,000 ft elevation gain and was like climbing stairs for a long time. Now my 13 hour bus ride and African hospitality which requires its guest to sit and eat were catching up with me. Masai would not let me stop to rest knowing we had to beat the approaching darkness. Remembering he was my guide and had been up this mountain numerous times, I knew I had to trust his judgement despite my legs tiring, the clouds below us and a narrow path which steeply was 'up' in one direction and 'down' (a long ways) in the other. 

 

This is when the words to another song crept into my mind, "I don't need to have a plan at hand. I don't need to have the end in sight. All I need to do is follow You wherever you lead and do what you ask me to." At this moment I realized that following Masai up that mountain could be likened to following God. In the same way in which Masai knew my tiredness was worth the view, God knows our present struggles are worth the glory to come. In the same way, I had to trustingly follow Masai on that rocky and narrow path, we are required to follow God step-by-step. The same way Masai gently encouraged me along, God is so very gracious with us.

 

The summit was breathtaking and left me speechless. There we were looking across a sea of clouds in the view of world famous Kilimanjaro and the horizon as a mystery of possibilities. The horizon not as the end of the world but the beginning of beginnings. That first beginning being right within. I was reminded of Saint Augustine's observation, "Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."Looking at the wonder about how magnificently gracious God is with this little, single person. This might be a much of a mystery as a mountain top or as awe-ing as those giant fig trees.

 

Rolling Along

As I write, I am rolling across the plains of Tanzania with the looming mountains of the Arusha region falling gently into the horizon. This semi-arid Savannah is dotted with small trees and shrubs surrounded by yellowish dried grasses. Here and there a traditional, circular, watto-and-daub mud home with thatched roof is seen; a lonesome man clad in the traditional red-and-black flannel of the Masai people herding a few cattle; as well as school children smartly dressed in uniform stepping back from the dusty path our bus is leaving while on their daily venture to school. “This is Africa”, as my friend Tumaini likes to tell me when explaining his culture.

I know the landscape will change many times during our thirteen hour safari home. We will pass the luscious, green hilly region of Manyara with its productive land, ripe in banana, greens and potatoes. Next will come a rocky region, which reminds me of how I would picture Galilee or Israel looking, leading onto Mwanza. Similarly, much will change in my own life when in a few short days I must fly back to my Mother Country - This land of affluence, timeliness, English, academia and political correctness; This land of dear friends, beauty, hardworking people and opportunities; This land which is called my mother country but a distant dream to many here in Tanzania.

This morning I read the back of a bus which under an enormous black and white photo of my president read, “In God We Trust”. This is the respect given to Americans from East Africa. Although my own political appreciation may vary, I heartily stand with my African brothers in the words, “In God We Trust”.

In God I trust to the leading from this chapter of my life. As I leave this beautiful place I have fallen in love with and ponder the joys and strengths of my African brothers, I would dare state that their strengths outweigh the dreary, hopeless pictures the West has painted of Africa. In fact my people, the Wazungu, would benefit to learn from their brothers in this land.

I am reminded of a small revelation I had one day peering through a dala-dala window traveling through town. As my western eyes looked they saw ‘poverty’ in the material sense. I saw unfinished buildings, rice drying on the side of the road which people walk through, old vehicles, mismatch clothing and broken streets when suddenly I saw the people. They were greeting each other, smiling and working together. Mamas holding babies on their back, children in groups of five and ten, old people, youth, business men and women. I then realized that in fact my African brothers are rich. They are rich in relationships. They have something right – valuing people over things or ease.

Kat and I spent a few days at Captain Nestor and Mama Rachel’s place in Sengerema on our way back from the village. Captain Nestor and his wife raised six of their own children to be productive and God fearing young adults as well as many others. Now in their older years they have an elderly cousin, couple of adult children, two grandchildren of their widowed daughter and a couple college students living in the home. One night over delicious dinner with the bustling family sitting around in the humble living room, Captain Nestor looked up saying, “We want to finish building our house, but there are schools fees to be paid.” They had already raised their own children, but the lives of others are more important than finishing their home.

Investment shows what is most valued. Coming from a larger family I know that the investment here is in people not things or comfort. I remember several years back meeting a family of 15 children from California. The father said people often would look at him accusingly, “How can you be so irresponsible?” or “There are so many starving children in the world.” He said, “I point to my children and say, ‘Which one of these would you trade for a better house or a boat?’” That father hit home with me - you get what you invest in. In Tanzania, I find a people that invest in each other. So what if your clothes aren’t the latest fade or your bowls are plastic, if you’re rich in love and hospitality for one another?

Just last night while visiting a couple young ladies I told them in America many people do not know their neighbors. One of them just laughed. I asked, “What’s funny?” The thought that a person wouldn't know their neighbors was a foreign idea to her.

I am not blind to the fact that Tanzania has many challenges which loom over its people. However it is important to look for their strengths, to appreciate them and to share these in order to give dignity. I have numerous times reassured my brothers here that my country is like any other earthly system, far from perfect. I find it most important to keep in perspective that we are but pilgrims or sojourners on earth journeying to a better country.

Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling (2 Cor. 5-12).” We see, hear and even feel the groaning of our temporary home called earth, in the news of floods, shootings, disease and evil plans devised. It only takes checking your email and seeing snippets of the news headlines to know that the world we live in is decaying. I would infer that no earthly kingdom or government is ‘better’ than another. It might just wear a different face. Despite God is greater and in Him there are joys unexplained.

In my own life, I have found much blessing, joy and wonder. Like author Philip Keller, “I am learning that life with Christ is a grand adventure shot through with startling surprises and blood-tingling bonuses”. A life surrendered to Christ and living by the principles set out by the Creator creates for a life of peace, even if things outwardly are breaking at the seams. The prophet Jeremiah spoke, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is life a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when the heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8).”

On my journey homeward first to the States but ultimately to our Heavenly Father’s home I will write on the tablets of my heart that “very Life is found in trusting God”. Furthermore the duty of man is the fear of God and keeping His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The first of which is a call to Love - an all-encompassing love of Himself and our neighbor. Finally, to my brothers and sisters in Tanzania, thank you for teaching me how to love.