Bonhoeffer and more...

In his posthumous book, Letters and Papers from Prison, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes something that rings very true to me 65 years later. And after a few recent conversations with colleagues who have become bored, burned-out and cynical - something very easy for clergy in times such as these - this reflection from one imprisoned for both his thoughts and deeds takes on a new twist:

I believe that God can and will bring good out of evil, even out of the greatest evil. For that purpose God needs men and women who make the best use of everything. I believe that God will give us all the strength we need to help us resist in all times of distress. But God never gives it in advance, lest we should rely on ourselves and not on God alone. A faith such as this should allay all our fears for the future. I believe that even our mistakes and shortcomings are turned to good account, and that it is no harder for God to deal with them than with our supposedly good deeds...

Bonhoeffer sounds a lot like Dr. King talking about how the arch of the moral universe tilts ever so slightly towards the good. And what both martyrs make clear is that times such as these demand a unique and sustained resistance in which prayer and action are non-negotiable. Individuals have neither enough strength nor insight to carry-on as solitary opponents in our mean-spirited and seductive culture. Alcoholics discovered they needed encouragement and accountability to stay healthy. So why do so many clergy insist on trying to do ministry as islands unto themselves? Arrogance? Fear? Bad theology? No role models? What?

Probably all of the above plus the fact that most of us have not hit bottom... and until there is no place to go but up, we'll keep doing things the same old way and expecting different results. In the church - in our minds - in our lives, yes?

But that just makes clergy cranky, old farts who are more cynical and worn-out than inspirational. How did Jesus put it? "You can read the signs in the heavens but you can't see the signs of the times!" (Where is the artist formerly known as Prince when you NEED him...?)

PS - so our "praying the psalms" group met - such wise and faithful friends - who talked about how hard it is in our busy lives to make room for "listening to God" in prayer. And how weird some of the Psalms are, too. At the same time, some new words and phrases are becoming part of our inner vocabulary even as we struggle to find time for a new/old way of prayer.

+ Psalm 9: the Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed... God will not forget the cry of the afflicted... who never forsakes those who seek you.

+ Psalm 5: All who take refuge in you will be glad forever... you will shelter them... and defend them with your favor as with a shield.

+ Psalm 13: how long, O Lord, how long will you hide your face from me?

This is NOT the most popular study group I have offered - it takes commitment - but it is very, very sweet and the right thing at the right time.