Dreaming Music

 

Occasionally when I wake up, I have a bit of music or a song playing in my mind. I always like it when this happens. It seems as if I've been dreaming the music, and it continues to play after I awaken. Which is also remarkable since I have no musical abilities, and I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

Yesterday morning when I awoke, Hymn 401, “The God of Abraham Praise,” was merrily playing along in my head. I continued to hum this hymn as I readied for the day, the lyrics readily coming to mind despite the fact that I’ve never thought much about this hymn. Since this was our processional hymn on Sunday, I suppose it’s at least something I’ve heard recently. But I know little of church music. Instead, my musical tastes run the gamut: reggae, Jimmy Buffet, Rolling Stones, The Who, AC/DC, & Johnny Cash, to more current music like The Heavy, Cake, The White Stripes, Zero 7, Wax Tailor, Morcheba, & Thievery Corporation. I also really like Baroque music as well. But I digress.

I learned from Erich Balling, Christ Church Cathedral’s Canon Musician, that the music for “The God of Abraham Praise” is an ancient Jewish tune that predates the birth of Christ by 300 years or so. It’s in a minor key, so it doesn’t feel as bright or cheerful as major key music. In fact, much of the music we hear in church during Lent is in a minor key. It’s more serious and somber. I feel like it brings us back to the serious nature of observing a holy Lent. But I think it’s serious in the sense that our return to God is an important thing, not something to make us feel bad about ourselves.

Elizabeth Conrad, our Minster of Christian Formation and who leads several Dream Groups (they get together to try to understand their dreams), suggested that since I was dreaming this hymn I should take a look at the lyrics to see if they had any meaning to me. So I did.

“The God of Abraham Praise” was written in 1770 by Thomas Olivers. Olivers had visited a Jewish synagogue and heard this tune (Loeni) and felt overcome with a desire to write a hymn to this solemn, plaintive melody. To me, Olivers’ words and this ancient melody help me in my Lenten journey with Jesus to Jerusalem, to the cross, and to the hope of the resurrection. It reminds me of God’s great love for each of us, of our deeply imbedded (but sometimes ignored) desire to be in relationship with God, and our need to worship God. This music moves us in ways our intellect cannot in the direction of the God of love, Jehovah, the Great I Am.

“The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above; Ancient and everlasting days, and God of love; Jehovah, great I AM, by earth and heaven confessed: I bow and bless the sacred Name forever blessed.”

I think these beautiful, holy words, combined with this ancient, sacred tune, stirs something very deep in our souls. It stirs the holiness that dwells within each of us.

Peace,

The Reverend Brent Owens+

The Discipline of Lent

The word "discipline" is used in many ways. For example, in higher education, students choose a degree in a certain discipline, studying that field and becoming more knowledgeable in it. In the fine arts, artists mold and develop a discipline, either music, dance, or art, by consistent and daily practice. In figure skating, skaters choose to learn and perfect one of the four different Olympic disciplines. In the military, officers uphold courtesies and disciplines to keep the chain of command. In sports, athletes use discipline to train and prepare themselves for the next game or competition. 

So, how can we use discipline in our every day lives? Discipline helps give our lives structure and to help us grow in anything in our lives – like exercising, eating right, studying God’s Word, following Christ, reading books, playing a sport, or learning something new. Discipline can encourage us to focus on ourselves and what we need to do to make ourselves better people, to become better disciples of Christ. 

During the season of Lent, I have always tried to challenge myself by giving up something or improving something in my life. I have given up things like chocolate, television, soda, or sweets. I have said I would spend more time reading God's Word or more time praying. But, many times, without a real will or discipline to keep that decision throughout Lent, I have often failed and bounced right back after Lent is done with a "thank goodness, it’s over!”

Thinking I only had to give up something for forty days didn't really help me to grow as a person, nor did it help me to become a better Christian. The season of Lent should be a time that encourages us to focus on what might need improvement in our lives, physically and spiritually. We should be excited to stop for a time, slow down our crazy lives, and target what can be changed in our lives. Focusing on ourselves can create a will and a desire of what needs to change. From that, we can create a clear path and a structure that brings discipline to our lives. 

Our journey in Lent can be one of meditation, focus, prayer, and sacrifice. It takes an act of discipline to do this, but the reward is a changed heart and life. I pray that this season of Lent will be a season of discipline that leads to a year of drawing near to God, growing as a person, and finding the joyful rewards that discipline often brings.

Let's Play Two!!

Two weeks ago in church we went through the Prayers of the People as normal.  After the service one of the men of the choir came up to me with a big grin on his face.  "You were the one who added Ernie Banks to the prayers, weren't you?"

"What gave it away?"  I asked jokingly.

That choir member was the first of many folks throughout the week who thanked me for adding Mr. Cub to the list of those who had died.  It wasn't because we were actually praying for a famous person who had died--you'll notice that Deacon Paula wrote a lovely meditation about the passing of Marcus Borg, for whom we also prayed that Sunday--rather it was because of the person Ernie Banks was.

Most folks know Ernie best as Mr. Cub.  He was a lifelong member of the hapless northsiders, playing 19 seasons in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.  Without question he was the best shortstop of his time--some might even say of all time.  His 512 homeruns, 1,636 runs batted in, and .274 lifetime batting average all rank number one among major league shortstops.  He was a 14-time All Star, won the National League Most Valuable Player award twice (1958 & 1959), and was inducted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1977.  Simply put:  Ernie Banks was one helluva baseball player!

But what he is most remembered for is his famous line, "What a great day for a ballgame!  Let's play two!"  Sure, it's a nostalgic callback to the days of true doubleheaders, when folks payed one price for two games, and you didn't have to put your kids to bed before the start of a ballgame.  The line calls us back to a simpler, more serene and pastoral time.  But more than that, Ernie's famous catchphrase is about a love and excitement for the game that he loved.  And to hear every person tell it, he had that same excitement about life.

Everyone from sportswriters to my own father has said that when they met Ernie Banks for the first time he had that same joy in his eyes, that same genuineness about him.  You knew, they said, that he loved life because he was smiling at you with that same little-kid smile that he had on his baseball cards. He didn't just wanna play two games because he loved baseball.  He wanted to play two games because he loved life, he loved the smell of the grass, he loved the camaraderie of his teammates, and he loved the fans.  He gave back to his community through a charitable foundation that he set up.  He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.  Oh, and did I mention he was an ordained minister?!  Simply put:  Ernie Banks was one helluva human being!

Baseball has always been a road to God for me.  Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, once said that "the glory of God is a human being fully alive."  So whenever I've been lucky enough to toe the rubber of a pitching mound or dig into a batter's box, I know that God is glorified in that thing that makes me feel most alive.  Ernie Banks knew that.  It's why he always wanted to play two.

Today Ernie takes his place at short with the other legends of the diamond who have gone before him.  His legacy is not only that of a great player--the very face of the Chicago Cubs franchise--but one of a great man.  Yes, like all of us, he had his flaws.  Still, perhaps we can take a cue from Ernie and approach each day with that same joy and enthusiasm.  Perhaps we can learn to smile more and give thanks for the sunshine, the grass, and all that makes us feel fully alive.

So rest in peace, Ernie.  And rise in glory!  It's time for you to play that second game, and the best part is that it never ends!

The Importance of Mentors

Almost two weeks ago, as many of you know, I was ordained to the priesthood. At the rehearsal Bishop Hahn addressed us all, stating the fact that it is the work and effort of our nursery workers, Sunday school teachers, choir masters, youth leaders, and other church associated mentors who have helped us to be molded and formed into the Christians we are today. He reminded us that it takes the work of the church to make a Christian adult (lay or ordained). And as I thought back to all those who had assisted me on my journey I saw how true this was. From my parents church friends to my choir director and the women priests who mentored me along my way, it has been those adults in the church and simple act of their presence that has truly had the biggest impact on my formation and journey towards the priesthood. Having had positive and repeated interactions with adults in the church, as a child and a youth, I have been able to see and experience what it means to be a mature active member in the Body of Christ.

As I reflect on these experiences and the words of Bishop Hahn I have begun to think about the amazing and formational work that our Confirmation mentors and doing with the their mentees. This year our 9th and 10th grade students are going through the Confirmation process preparing for their Confirmation on April 26th. As they prepare to confirm their baptismal vows and make a mature affirmation of their faith before the Bishop and our congregation they have begun to meet regularly with a mentor from our church.

These mentors are adult members of the Cathedral who are dedicating their time and efforts to the formation and guidance of our youth. Their commitment to our youth is one not only of time and energy, but of spiritual strength and interpersonal connections. They are journeying through the beliefs and understandings of our faith, discovering not only the beliefs and understandings of our young people, but my guess is rediscovering (or redefining) their own as well. The connections that these mentors and mentees are coming to create will be the foundational in their understanding of the what and who the church is. When these young persons look back on their time at the church of their childhood I hope, and believe, that they will remember the adult who took the time and energy to give them positive and life affirming attention. I hope, and believe that through these relationships they will know that they are loved and accepted in the church to which they confirm their faith and membership.