Practicing faith
17/11/14 04:35
Chances are you don’t want to read more about the weather, but it has been on my mind. I am eager to get firewood delivered to McLaughlin. It is our most distant delivery and just because it is a long way for us to drive, the need is no less than is that of those who live closer to our church. Still, it is important that we are mindful of the safety of our volunteers. One thing that Dakota winters teaches is respect of the weather.
As weather goes, it isn’t bad. It isn’t all that severe. We’ve seen colder temperatures, higher winds, more snow. This isn’t the blizzard that struck us last October.
And there are a lot of people from Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan who remember today as the one year anniversary of some particularly severe weather. No November 17, 2013, a rare late-season tornado outbreak struck with around six dozen tornadoes touching down in the three states in an approximately 11-hour time period, including seven EF3 and two EF4 tornadoes.
By comparison, the weather we are experiencing isn’t all that bad, I guess.
I’ve never lived in a place where tornadoes are frequent. I guess it is possible for a tornado to touch down in the hills, but we’ve only lived here for 19 years, so we haven’t yet experienced that particular weather phenomenon.
I don’t live my life with many fears and I’m sure that were I to live in a place where tornadoes were common, I’d get to know where the shelters were and learn to live with appropriate caution, but without fear. That is the way I feel about the weather that we do get. I try to exercise appropriate caution. I carry a really good foul weather kit in my car and in my pickup. We joke that were we to slide into the ditch, we hope that rescue would come within three weeks or so. After that we might start to run out of provisions. We probably wouldn’t run out of tea or coffee, but other food might be getting short by that time.
Sleeping bags, candle lanterns, good warm boots, dry socks, tire chains, a tow strap, jumper cables. Yup, I’ve got all of those things.
In the midst of what is probably most accurately described as typical winter weather for South Dakota, yesterday’s attendance at church was a little bit light. It is hard for people with any kind of mobility disorder to get out when the streets and sidewalks are sporting ice. There we some folks who didn’t want to drive in this weather for the same reason. But for the hardy few who did make it, the music was outstanding: bell choir, adult choir, flute, organ, violin - there aren’t many congregations that enjoy better music that we.
And then in the afternoon, with the wind blowing and the snow flying, those of us who were able were treated to a wonderful afternoon concert. Marta Asnavooran, Desiree Ruhstrat and David Cunliffe delighted and inspired us with classical piano trio music. But it was the contemporary music that they played that stirred my heart. As a classical music fan, I confess that I often am unaware of all of the latest in contemporary music simply because there is so much to hear in the realm of classical music. And I suppose that some of the sounds and rhythms of contemporary music are acquired tastes, but the taste was just right for me.
After church, I made a hospital call, grabbed a sandwich to share with my wife back at the church and then went to work to try to catch up on some needed paperwork - though that kind of work doesn’t involve much paper these days. Mostly it is writing e-mail messages and making adjustments to web sites and calendars. With snowflakes in the air, my mind wandered from my work on a regular basis. And the flight was accompanied by the strains from the musicians practicing in the sanctuary.
There aren’t many people in this world who are treated to the sounds that frequently surround my office and workspace. There is no recording with as much glory and grace as live musicians working in the room next to my office.
This is the second time that the Lincoln Trio has played in our church since I have been pastor. One of their big projects is an album of contemporary music for a classical piano trio all composed by women. The album, “Notable Women,” is a delight and one that I sometimes play for a long drive across South Dakota. I’ll have it with me today as we head north, weather permitting.
As nice as the album is, recordings have an entirely different quality than live musicians. And, frankly, I love to be present when they are rehearsing. The repeated phrases, the tweaking for perfection, the pauses for comment and discussion all add to mu understanding of the music and the people who make music for us to hear.
The music of any ensemble is dependent upon the ability of the artists to work with each other. They develop a sense of timing and an sensitivity to the sounds that the other musicians are making.
Our church also is dependent upon the ability of people of exceptional talent to work together. Sometimes we make beautiful music together - in fact most of the time we make beautiful music together.
Sometimes we simply need more practice.
Faith is, after all, a practice. God does not demand perfection of us, but rather the ability to keep trying and, to keep growing, and to keep learning. This life is an opportunity to practice our faith in the context of the love and care of a supporting community. We don’t always get it right, but we always keep striving for faithfulness.
And even our practice is a joyful gift to God.
Perhaps God enjoys the practice as much as I. Maybe God even feels grateful, as I do, to witness the practice.
As weather goes, it isn’t bad. It isn’t all that severe. We’ve seen colder temperatures, higher winds, more snow. This isn’t the blizzard that struck us last October.
And there are a lot of people from Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan who remember today as the one year anniversary of some particularly severe weather. No November 17, 2013, a rare late-season tornado outbreak struck with around six dozen tornadoes touching down in the three states in an approximately 11-hour time period, including seven EF3 and two EF4 tornadoes.
By comparison, the weather we are experiencing isn’t all that bad, I guess.
I’ve never lived in a place where tornadoes are frequent. I guess it is possible for a tornado to touch down in the hills, but we’ve only lived here for 19 years, so we haven’t yet experienced that particular weather phenomenon.
I don’t live my life with many fears and I’m sure that were I to live in a place where tornadoes were common, I’d get to know where the shelters were and learn to live with appropriate caution, but without fear. That is the way I feel about the weather that we do get. I try to exercise appropriate caution. I carry a really good foul weather kit in my car and in my pickup. We joke that were we to slide into the ditch, we hope that rescue would come within three weeks or so. After that we might start to run out of provisions. We probably wouldn’t run out of tea or coffee, but other food might be getting short by that time.
Sleeping bags, candle lanterns, good warm boots, dry socks, tire chains, a tow strap, jumper cables. Yup, I’ve got all of those things.
In the midst of what is probably most accurately described as typical winter weather for South Dakota, yesterday’s attendance at church was a little bit light. It is hard for people with any kind of mobility disorder to get out when the streets and sidewalks are sporting ice. There we some folks who didn’t want to drive in this weather for the same reason. But for the hardy few who did make it, the music was outstanding: bell choir, adult choir, flute, organ, violin - there aren’t many congregations that enjoy better music that we.
And then in the afternoon, with the wind blowing and the snow flying, those of us who were able were treated to a wonderful afternoon concert. Marta Asnavooran, Desiree Ruhstrat and David Cunliffe delighted and inspired us with classical piano trio music. But it was the contemporary music that they played that stirred my heart. As a classical music fan, I confess that I often am unaware of all of the latest in contemporary music simply because there is so much to hear in the realm of classical music. And I suppose that some of the sounds and rhythms of contemporary music are acquired tastes, but the taste was just right for me.
After church, I made a hospital call, grabbed a sandwich to share with my wife back at the church and then went to work to try to catch up on some needed paperwork - though that kind of work doesn’t involve much paper these days. Mostly it is writing e-mail messages and making adjustments to web sites and calendars. With snowflakes in the air, my mind wandered from my work on a regular basis. And the flight was accompanied by the strains from the musicians practicing in the sanctuary.
There aren’t many people in this world who are treated to the sounds that frequently surround my office and workspace. There is no recording with as much glory and grace as live musicians working in the room next to my office.
This is the second time that the Lincoln Trio has played in our church since I have been pastor. One of their big projects is an album of contemporary music for a classical piano trio all composed by women. The album, “Notable Women,” is a delight and one that I sometimes play for a long drive across South Dakota. I’ll have it with me today as we head north, weather permitting.
As nice as the album is, recordings have an entirely different quality than live musicians. And, frankly, I love to be present when they are rehearsing. The repeated phrases, the tweaking for perfection, the pauses for comment and discussion all add to mu understanding of the music and the people who make music for us to hear.
The music of any ensemble is dependent upon the ability of the artists to work with each other. They develop a sense of timing and an sensitivity to the sounds that the other musicians are making.
Our church also is dependent upon the ability of people of exceptional talent to work together. Sometimes we make beautiful music together - in fact most of the time we make beautiful music together.
Sometimes we simply need more practice.
Faith is, after all, a practice. God does not demand perfection of us, but rather the ability to keep trying and, to keep growing, and to keep learning. This life is an opportunity to practice our faith in the context of the love and care of a supporting community. We don’t always get it right, but we always keep striving for faithfulness.
And even our practice is a joyful gift to God.
Perhaps God enjoys the practice as much as I. Maybe God even feels grateful, as I do, to witness the practice.