There were four blind men who went to the circus. The question arose, “What does an elephant look like?” One blind man felt the elephant’s leg and said he looked like a tree trunk. Another felt his tail and said he looked like a rope. The third felt his tusk and said he looked like a sword. The last man felt his side and said he looked like a wall. Which of the blind men was right?
Perhaps the best answer is to say that each one was right—from his own viewpoint. But each blind man was not completely right. Only by sharing information could they get a more accurate view of what an elephant is like. In a sense, this is the way it is with God.
On this Trinity Sunday—we are reminded that God—is a God of many faces and dimensions. A God who loves us and who wants to be in a relationship with us—who has chosen to share life with us—A God who cannot be defined, or packaged or boxed up completely—Ever.
As the story of the elephant reminds us—only by sharing our experiences of God and listening to each other, will we come to a better awareness of the awesomeness of God.
Did you hear about the man who died and went to heaven only to find that heaven was full? St. Peter explained that they had a special expansion program in progress and there would be room in 2-3 weeks. Would the gentleman mind returning to earth to wait. He said, “delighted” and returned, only to bump into an old buddy who gasped, “I thought you were dead.” “I was—but they’re remodeling heaven and I have to wait a couple of weeks longer.” “You mean you actually got to heaven and saw all the angels and saints?” “Yes”. “Tell me about God.” “Well first of all, she’s black…..”
Of course it’s just a story, but it certainly helps destroy some of the comic-book, fairy-tale, holy-card, stereotyped myths about God—who was always pictured to me as an old, white, Anglo-Saxon male with a long white beard, enthroned on a cloud directly overhead but far, far away.
When we think our perception of God—our Catholic, our Protestant, our CCD—our Catholic School perception is the only one—we are making a BIG MISTAKE!
I close with this: Call God what you wish—Creator, Ground of Our Being, Life Force, Spirit Within, Lover, Love, Higher Power, Father, Mother, ABBA, Yahweh, Jesus….God can handle it—just keep calling.
Archive for May, 2010
The Most Holy Trinity 5-30-2010
Sunday, May 30th, 2010Happy Birthday Church 5-23-2010
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010At a testimonial dinner that I attended many people said some wonderful things about this special human being. This human being that we were talking about definitely has a dark side and a lot of rough edges. But for one night those things were put aside and we focused on what was right and good about him. For a few minutes today, on the birthday of the Church, Pentecost Sunday, I would like to focus on what is right and good about our Church. One of those right things is its ability to endure. Many of our Scripture lessons carry us back to the beginning of Church. The people who wrote and originally read those documents were first-generation Christians. They stood on the ground floor of a brand new institution. Like all newborn things, the Church was small and seemed so fragile. There was serious doubt among the membership whether the Church would survive. Its key leadership cowered behind closed door, thinking their cause was surely lost. However, many cultures and civilizations have come and gone, but the Church lives on. There is something reassuring about that. Personally, I find it comforting to belong to something that has stood the test of time. The Church is so solid that, for nearly two thousand years, it has outlasted the hostility of its foes and the stupidity at times of his friends and leadership. The church was here when we arrived on the scene and will remain long after we are gone no matter what ABC and CNN have to say. Another thing right with the Church is its record of ministry to human need. Without that, the ability to endure would be meaningless. Jesus measured the worth of all institutions not by their age, not by their size, but by their usefulness to people. He must surely apply the same test to his own Church. And though its score has been far from perfect, it does have an impressive record of service. You and I are so familiar with this that we often take it for granted. We seldom pause to appreciate what the church has accomplished throughout the centuries. It has provided the inspiration, the leadership, and in some cases, the money for much of the world’s charitable endeavor. For all its faults and failures, the Church has stood by the conviction that every person is sacred in the sight of God. That conviction has proven to be a revolutionary incentive. It has produced, and continues to produce, pressure for change, both in the world and in the Church. A final thought about what is right with the Church and I believe, most important of all. In the world, the Church stands as a constant reminder of God, It points the way to Christ, it calls us to be a community of faith, it offers forgiveness and healing. This is not one of the businesses of the Church, it is the main business of the Church. The Church’s primary purpose is bringing people into a redeeming relationship with God. On Pentecost 2010 we need to be reminded that the early Church was not a group of men and women naturally equipped to turn the world upside down. Most of them had little education, very little money and no political power. They were plain people in partnership with God, but that relationship changed their lives and enabled them to change their world. The Church is made up of people, that means it always has been and continues to be imperfect. But there is a life here that is more than mortal and a spirit that is more than human. God does not belong to the Church – the Church belongs to God. And when joined in partnership with God, powerful and unbelievable things can happen. I close: We have all criticized the Church and we will criticize it again. To love the Church is to have that responsibility, but today let us make a commitment to do our part, to be part of the solutions instead of just pointing a critical finger of judgment at the problems. Today, let us remember and celebrate what is good and right with the Church, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday Church.
The Simple Truths of Service 5-16-2010
Sunday, May 16th, 2010(This is a true story as told by Barbara Glanz, CSP.)
A few years ago, I was hired by a large supermarket chain to lead a customer service program to build customer loyalty.
During my speech I said, “Every one of you can make a difference and create memories for our customers that will motivate them to come back. HOW?
Put your personal signature on the job. Think about something you can do for your customer to make them feel special; memories that will make them come back.
About a month after I had spoken, I received a call from a 19 year old bagger named Johnny. He proudly informed me he was a Down Syndrome individual and told me his story.
“I liked what you talked about”, he said, “but at first I didn’t think I could do anything special for our customers. After all, I’m just a bagger”.
“Then I had an idea. Every night after work, I’d come home and find a Thought For The Day.” If I can’t find a saying I like”, he added, “I just think one up!”
When Johnny had a good Thought For The Day, his dad helped him set it up on the computer and print multiple copies. Johnny cut out each quote and signed his name on the back. Then he’d bring them to work the next day.
“When I finish bagging someone’s groceries, I put my Thought For The Day in their bag and say: “Thanks for shopping with us.”
It touched me to think that this young man, with a job most people would say is not important, had made it important by creating precious memories for all his customers.
A month later, the store manager called me. “You won’t believe what happened. When I was making my rounds today, I found Johnny’s checkout line was three times longer than anyone else’s! It went all the way down the frozen food aisle. So I quickly announced, ‘We need more cashiers; get more lanes open!’, as I tried to get people to change lanes. But no one would move.
They said, “No, its okay, we want to be in Johnny’s lane. We want his Thought For The Day”.
The store manager continued, “It was a joy to watch Johnny delight the customers”. I got a lump in my throat when one woman said, “I used to shop at your store once a week, but now I come in every time I go by, because I want to get Johnny’s Thought For The Day.”
A few months later, the manager called me again. “Johnny has transformed our store. Now when the floral department has a broken flower or unused corsage, they find an elderly woman or a little girl and pin it on them. Everyone’s having fun creating memories. Our customers are talking about us; they’re coming back, and bringing their friends.”
A wonderful spirit of service spread throughout the entire store…and all because Johnny chose to make a difference!
Johnny’s idea wasn’t nearly as innovative as it was loving. It came from his heart, it was real. That’s what touched his customers, his peers…and those who read his story.
Great service comes from the heart…Will you be a Johnny today?
