Mike’s Rumblings 03-22-24

Faith Conversations

This is an audio version of Mike Murphy‘s Friday rumblings. This is a regular post on Facebook that I’ve turned into a podcast. I decided Mike’s words needed a wider audience. You may agree or disagree with what he says, but there is certainly much food for thought contained here. You can friend Mike on Facebook for the printed version or read it below

Rumblings. 3.22.24

1. “As my spiritual director and I transitioned into a new kind of relationship I was still thinking that the answers would come primarily through verbal exchange. I was hoping for advice and a quick fix—in 3 easy steps if possible! Now, I thought, rather than doing psychological talking we would do spiritual talking. And we did do some talking but eventually this wise woman said to me, “Ruth you are like a jar of river water all shaken up. What you need is to sit still long enough so the sediment can settle, and the water can become clear.” ~ Ruth Haley Barton, The Transforming Center

May ‘sitting still often enough’ become a foundational habit of our lives. I’ve been doing just that this week. Too much sediment floating around in my life. I need things to settle a bit.

2. “There is an old tale where the rabbi was asked by one of his students “Why did God create atheists?”

After a long pause, the rabbi finally responded with a soft but sincere voice. “God created atheists” he said, “to teach us the most important lesson of them all – the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that God commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his actions are based on his sense of morality. Look at the kindness he bestows on others simply because he feels it to be right.

When someone reaches out to you for help. You should never say ‘I’ll pray that God will help you.’ Instead, for that moment, you should become an atheist – imagine there is no God who could help, and say ‘I will help you’.” ~ Martin Buber, Tales of Hasidim

Brilliant. I can picture Jesus smiling.

3. “To show compassion for an individual without showing concern for the structures of society that make him an object of compassion is to be sentimental rather than loving.” ~ William Sloan Coffin, Jr.

In other words, embrace both the person and his/her circumstances. Help fix what needs fixing. Think wholistically.

4. It’s well past the time for Netanyahu to call for new elections in Israel.

5. As the MAGA rhetoric becomes more and more extreme and combative, those who are deliberately unaware become pawns in a very nefarious effort to destabilize our country and to damage democracy across the globe.

Most people, I’ve discovered, don’t really want the truth. They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth. So, they spend their time in an echo chamber of ideas that won’t tax their intellect nor challenge their assumptions. It’s a very, very, sad and sinful way to live.

Rev. Benjamin Cremer reminds us that “a Christian approach to politicians should sound like, “how will their policies impact my neighbor who I am called to love?” not “do they dislike the same people I do?”

6. “It is a serious thing

Just to be alive

on this fresh morning

In this broken world.” ~ Mary Oliver

Yes, it is. Every day is an Esther (for such a time as this) moment, waking us to the possibilities before us in the ‘here and right now.’ May we embrace that which is offered to us.

7. “And it is here that I realize how lucky I am.

I could so easily have learned to be afraid of diversity.

I could have believed the lie that my whiteness is better.

I could have been polluted by toxic religion enough to hate queer people.

I could have imagined that America was the totality of the world.

I could have learned to parrot back myths about Muslims and migrants and transgender teenagers.

I could have fallen for the dangerous conspiracies and been taken in by the big lies.

I could have weaponized God and country.

And I know the fact that I somehow haven’t isn’t necessarily a matter of greater character or higher intelligence than those who grew up in similar privilege—but a combination of better information, dumb luck, and the presence of some really beautiful people who helped me transcend the smallness and the sameness of my surroundings when others were not able to.” ~ Jon Pavlovitz

8. The man on Facebook said to me: “Trump is the best thing that’s ever happened to America.”

My response: “I will pray that God gives you a much more compelling vision of best.”

9. “Putin has criminalized the expression of any alternative opinions. This is not an election; it’s a selection.” Alena Popova, Russian Human Rights Activist

I will remember these words of warning as I prepare to vote. I hope you will too for there are those already in our midst who want selections, not elections.

10. Erik Spoelstra, the Miami Heat Head Coach, has always asked his players to live into a simple philosophy: “Significant success is a result of a commitment to the collective. It’s about selflessness and sacrifice and always about what-about-we, never what-about-me.”

I find this to be quite refreshing.

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