Dear All of Us,
So, what were we all doing
in the summer of 1957?
Of course, many of us
"weren't yet"
that far back.
Ancient of Days that I am,
in '57 I was
a summer orderly at
St. Joseph's Hospital
in Paterson, NJ.
It's a big, busy,
city medical center.
I worked in the
emergency room and morgue.
It was pretty intense
and especially so
for someone seventeen -
dealing with
broken arms to
psychic collapses,
heart attacks
to strokes.
And then there was
removing bodies
from refrigeration
and assisting at autopsies.
Not particularly
light and easy fare.
Believe me it was
definitely and decidedly
dark and difficult
at times.
Coffee breaks helped lighten things up.
And what did I do?
I joined the doctors and nurses to
LIGHT UP
Yup, I started smoking cigarettes
with health care professionals
in a hospital!
Crazy.
Over time I found a lot better ways to
LIGHT UP
and they are just right for right now.
In this now of night-like days
the stress level across
shoulders and societies
is way, way more than ever
it was for seventeen-year old me
at the hospital
seeking relief in coffee and
Unlucky Strikouts.
What's needed now are ways,
deep and soulful,
ways
to
LIGHT UP
way down deep
all the way out
all way round.
In our everyday orbits we get
to help with that right where we are.
In fact, it's a major portion
of our spiritual lives.
We do well to see and share that.
"You are the light of the world...
Let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14&16
Jesus says same of self:
"I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me
will never walk in darkness, but
will have the light of life."
That's a two-fer One
Light Tight
Our model and energy source is
Jesus.
He really is
The Light for our Troubled World.
He asks our help.
Jesus wants to
wrap us in,
fuse us one,
shine us bright.
Again, it is a major portion
of our spiritual lives.
Accepting the warmth
and light bright of Jesus
plugs us in where Jesus
was plugged in.
A close reading
of the Gospels
highlights that
his prime ministry
was with those
down darkened
in distress.
He met them
where and as they were.
He love-lighted them.
He shared who and how
he was with them.
It was rather miraculous
and did they ever
LIGHT UP
So, how do we let
the light of Christ
shine through us?
First and foremost,
we make sure
it's his light,
not our
controlling,
posturing,
false selves
showing off,
doing feel good
for self-strut.
That means
we let Jesus keep us
plugged into him and
that in turn means
Openness, Intimacy, Prayer
Then we go
where he went
as he went
and
do that as we are
and where we are:
- If we can relieve
people in pain,
we do so.
- When people are in pain
that cannot be relieved,
we quietly companion them.
We are a faithful,
flickering light
in their darkness.
- Walking down the sidewalk
we pocket our phone,
nod and smile when possible,
a simple flick of light.
- If Soul Stretch allows,
we consider adopting
a foster child.
- At social gatherings
we find ways to wrap in
the left outs.
- If do-able,
we companion a child
as a Big Brother/Sister.
- In conversations we listen
with our hearts
more than motor mouth.
- Those of us with means
forgo extravagances,
use our funds
to support
a poor child of promise
by financing attendance
at the best possible schools,
pre-K to graduate school.
If that sounds radical,
it is,
as radical as,
"Again, I tell you,
it is easier for a camel
to go through
the eye of a needle
than it is
for a rich man
to enter
the kingdom of God."
Jesus
(Matthew 18:24)
- We host a Table Ministry,
weekly connecting
all different sorts
socially and soulfully
over linguini
cum vino
(make mine a robust red).
- We find ways to practically
care for the earth and
advocate justice for its peoples.
Perhaps a community garden.
Perhaps organizing
small group visits to legislators.
- We take church home with us.
Possibly a weekly at home
prayer/support group.
- We "adopt" a lonely
nursing home resident,
treat them as family,
bring them to our home
especially for holiday meals,
visit them weekly
bringing a little "goodie".
- If we live in
an apartment building
we occasionally slip
the maintenance person
a twenty in gratitude.
- We find ways to genuinely
and regularly spot
overwhelmed parents,
perhaps taking their kids
for a day in the country,
or if they live there,
a day in the city.
- We cut some slack for
a cranky family member
having a bad hair day,
for some of us, make that
"a bad bald day" :)
So, we have these few
Soul Prompts.
Now we add to the list
our own
Jesus Ways
to
Light Up
******
A FEW
IF YOU CARE TO'S
We can have a
heavenward lift
enjoying
the music
of
the online
video
at
Shine Jesus Shine song lyrics
St. Lawrene Church Chorly
(3:50m)
******
WE CAN HAVE A GO
AT PERSOALIZING
JESUS'
JOB DISCRIPTION
IN TERMS OF OUR TERMS
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and
recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year
of the Lord's favor."
e.g. how shine
The Light of the World
"to free prisoners"
- those locked up in selfishness
- those captive to unemployment
- those jailed in poverty
- those in relational
solitary confinement
******
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
FOR
SHINING
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
I was hungry
I was thirsty
I was a stranger
I needed clothes
I was sick
I was in prison
Matthew 25:31-46
e.g. I was a stranger.
- Relating to an autistic person at church
- Cultivating a friendship with
a Far-Right person in a Far-Left area,
a Far-Left person in a Far-Right area
******
WELCOME ONE AND ALL
ONLINE POSTINGS
THURSDAY MORNINGS
EAST COAST USA TIME
THANKS
FOR SHARING
frankly speaking
PAST POSTINGS AVAILABLE
BY
SCROLLING WELL DOWN
BENEATH
THIS ONE
See you next week.
Shine Jesus Shine!
Love to all.
God Bless
John Frank
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
******
