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compassion, Epiphany, faith, gifts, grace, gratitude, interfaith cooperation, Jesus Christ, light of Christ, ministry, progressive Christianity, re-creation, spirituality
Today is the eve of Epiphany, a day celebrating the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world, and especially to religious outsiders and seekers. It also marks the one-year anniversary of this blog, in which I have endeavored to share a word of grace, hope, and peace with my readers. My posts have included prayers, poems, portions of sermons, and other reflections on spirituality and the life of faith from a progressive Christian perspective.
Pastoral ministry is demanding. Most of the time I feel as though I’m way behind in doing what needs to be done to strengthen the church I serve and help people become more faithful and fruitful in ministry to the world. So my posts have sometimes been few and far between. Still I value those who read, and especially those who trouble themselves to make a comment or offer feedback.
For me the most important qualities of Christian disciples are humility, compassion, a desire to serve humankind, and a heart for all God’s children. Beliefs and theologies can vary. Religions and traditions can vary. If you are convinced that every human being is a child of God and you want to bring people together to build a shared humanity and strengthen the common good, then I don’t care if you are an atheist, an agnostic, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Sikh, a Muslim, a Christian, or a Jew! Please, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, for the sake of the natural world and all its creatures, and for the sake of our future on this planet, let us work together to make a better world.
I am a Christian pastor, but I have great admiration and respect for people of all faiths and people of no faith, because I have been around long enough to understand that religious beliefs don’t always make people more compassionate or kind or loving. Sometimes, in fact, religious beliefs just inoculate people into thinking they don’t need to change or embolden them to be boisterous in their condemnation of those who think differently than they do. Sometimes religious beliefs make people less tolerant, less trusting, less loving, and (to be honest) a pain in the neck. Still I believe in the power of love to transform the world.
On this twelfth day of Christmas and Epiphany Eve, I share a poem I wrote ten years ago.
What Gift Can We Bring?
No one dare boast of her place in God’s Kingdom.
No one dare brag of his place in God’s Realm.
We are but children reborn of our Mother,
And in the arms of our Father beheld.
Still, in this season we sing out God’s glory —
We who have come to experience God’s grace.
Still, in this time when a star shines out brightly —
We come rejoicing, and look on Love’s face.
How is it that we can sing when we’re lonely?
How is it that we can stand while afraid?
How is it that we still love the Old Story
Of all creation made new and reclaimed?
We are not brighter or richer or stronger,
We are not privileged alone to know Love.
We are with all of God’s children together
Graced by the Christ here on earth and above.
What can we bring to the Child born among us?
What can we offer our Savior and King?
All that we are is a gift we’ve been given —
Our grateful hearts the best gift we can bring.
Words (c) 2002 Mark Lloyd Richardson
dreamprayact 
I wholeheartedly agree with you Mark. Thankyou for your efforts with this blog. I guess the truth is that through our blogs, we have no real way of knowing how many people we may touch. That is in God’s hands as always and I imagine He rather likes this new tecnological means of reaching out across the globe. Keep up your good and valued work with His strength and grace.
Thank you, Stephanie. I enjoy the community of writers and seekers found among bloggers, and am grateful for people like you who visit and share your thoughts. God bless you as you share your spiritual journey with others. Peace, Mark
Happy Blog Anniversary to my hubby! Keep up the good word (yes, that’s what I meant to say…)!
Thank you, sweetheart! Your contribution through photography has added immensely to what I have written. We make a great team. I love you!
Good message, and I love the poem.
Thanks for your kind words, Caddo. Blessings, Mark
Absolutely beautiful poem! What a gift you have. Thanks for posting. (Incidentally, it reminded me of The Little Drummer Boy, my all-time favorite Christmas special. Still makes me cry, and so did your poem!)
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for your kind words. It looks like you are new to the WordPress blogging community, and I am following your blog in anticipation of the message of grace you will share with your readers. Many blessings, Mark
Mark, the gift of your kind wisdom that you share here beautifully brightens our world. I especially love how you present to us all, that if we understand “every human being is a child of God and [we] want to bring people together to build a shared humanity and strengthen the common good” then our religion or non-religion, or anything else, doesn’t matter! We are part of one family! I thank you again, always, for this loving blog. ~Gina
Gina, Thanks for being so kind-hearted. Yours is one of the blogs I find especially thought-provoking and encouraging. Many blessings to you, Mark
Your blog and the amazing photographs have been a wonderful inspiration for me this year! Thank you!
Thank you very much, Linda. Keep up your terrific writing. Peace, Mark
I have read a number of your posts and have not always had a comment to post. I want to say a word of encouragement—your words are meaningful. Your work is important. Thank you for both.
When I was teaching children with severe disabilities, there were many, many times that my assistant and I would spend nearly all day dealing with one crisis after another and on those days, some children would have been waiting, on hold, for us to have time for them. We always felt badly but circumstances just did not always (or even often) allow for us to do all the things we wanted to do. We would look at each other and sigh, and one of us would say, “We can only do what we can only do!”
I have found this to be true of ministry as well. There is always more we could do, always one more word we could say or write or read. We can only do what we can only do, and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.
Blessings to you! And happy epiphany!
Sharon McCart
Sharon, I appreciate your comment, coming from someone who understands ministry. We are limited in what we can do, but God is not. So we do have to leave much, if not most, of the transformational ministry to the Holy Spirit, and simply make ourselves available to be instruments of God’s grace and peace with the time and energy we have. Happy Epiphany to you, Mark
Mark, my husband Brian and I have worked in ministry for over 10 years now. Brian is still at our Catholic church here in town — the pastoral associate for a variety of ministries. I volunteer – a lot. We are at a parish that is allllll about “welcoming” and bringing together folks from all different sorts of backgrounds and beliefs. We just had an interfaith new year’s eve service. It was beautiful. Yes, we too are about compassion and cultivating community. My husband’s work at the parish is in service to this. I guess mine too – but my “ministry” work isn’t always AT the church. Many blessings to you and your vocation of compassion and service and common ground. Love, Lisa
http:www.barefootbarn.com
Lisa, it sounds like you and Brian are each fulfilling your life’s callings in deeply fulfilling ways. Ministry is ministry wherever it occurs, and it especially needs to go beyond the walls of the church if it is to have a transforming effect on the world. Many blessings to the both of you. Mark