Inspiration of the Spirit

        Usually I select one of the morning readings from the Liturgy of the Hours as a reflection. Today I am deeply touched by the three holy people that are remembered on this day by the Episcopal Church, St. Lucy, Ella Baker and Samuel Johnson. 

        All three of these people remind me, oddly enough, of a hallmark of my old work environment. Our goal was always to make the patient # one. Like making God # one in our lives? In that quest we always made the strongest efforts to work collaboratively but most important, we always raised the bar of our own expectations. We never rested on our laurels. 

        When Jesus died he promised us the Paraclete that would help guide us to greater understanding and love. When I think about the guidance of the Holy Spirit I think of how life has changed and how our understanding has grown. As noted yesterday, we no longer see slavery as consistent with God's love for all creations and the respect we are all due as children of God. We also see that the concept relayed to our ancestors about creating the world in 7 days is no longer considered a scientific reality based on our new knowledge and wisdom. At the time of the early explorers and the European invasion of the Americas, the preeminent religious authority of the time, The Roman Church, had deemed that the native peoples of both North and South Americas did not have souls. They were not looked at as fully human. I supposed they were viewed almost like we might view a neanderthal. It is perhaps horribly ironic that the European invaders acted more like the neanderthals, but I digress.

       The whole point is that as a faithful people, we must always raise the bar like we did at work.  Our understanding must be raised and also our actions. We cannot rest on our laurels of simply obeying a rote set of rules, rubrics and personal acts of piety however well intentioned.

         Today, the Roman church has breached and abdicated it moral authority, ceding that authority to the Anglicans in both scriptural exegesis and social reforms. ( My opinion )
In the Anglican communion we find apostolic succession, we find recognition of ministry for all, women, married clergy and so forth. We find recognition of the wholeness and holiness of every gay human being. There is no will to power of white males over people of color or people of the rainbow.

        We are always called to greater faith, to greater understanding and deeper relationship with our creator. The Spirit is alive!

         Never rest on your laurels. 

Lucy
Ella Baker
Samuel Johnson