Sometimes it takes a flood...

The comic above was posted by Nick Mueller from New South Wales, one of 23 Australian Youth Delegates to the Copenhagen Climate Negotiations. He serves as an astute reminder that even as we stare down these serious challenges, we can face these issues with humor and a lighter heart “to support young people to make the change needed for our planet in a personally sustainable way.” (Check out his blog at nickgoestocopenhagen)

On a more serious note, here's a very significant 4-minute history of climate change and how scientists have arrived at their conclusions - one of the best explanations I have ever heard - by Bill McKibbon, author of The End of Nature, which was the first book (back in the 80's) to introduce the notion and science of climate change to a non-scientific audience, passionately and beautifully written. And while Bill McKibben's updated introduction in recent printings (2006) adds relevant new knowledge, it also highlights just how prescient and powerful the original book remains.

All of this is highlighted on the Dec 10th edition of "Speaking of Faith."

-Clair

Reflections on science and faith (surrounding the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's "Origin of the Species")

Australia has a fascination with Charles Darwin and his legacy. Earlier this year, as a precursor to the 150th anniversary of the publishing of his famous "Origin of Species" Carole Anne and I went through a special exhibition at the National Museum here in Canberra - a stop on a tour this exhibition was taking around the world. It visually documented the personal development, life experiences, and adventures that influenced Darwin, his ideas and how his theory developed. It explained why he "sat" on publishing his theory for about 20 years - until someone else came along who was about to publish similar findings. Darwin understood how controversial the implications of his work might be - and they still are, obviously!

A very popular Sunday evening TV programme here is ABC's (Australian Broadcasting Company) "Compass." The November 22nd edition entitled “Did Darwin Kill God?" was well-crafted and is now available online here: I highly recommend you take the time to watch it - after reading the next few paragraphs.

During this segment, British philosopher and theologian Dr. Conor Cunningham argues it’s very possible to be a good Christian (or Jew) and embrace the theory of evolution -- how there actually is no conflict at all between Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and the book of Genesis.

Cunningham says when Darwin’s theory was first published in Britain it was welcomed by both the Anglican and Catholic Churches. He claims the conflict between Darwin and God was manufactured by American literal creationists in the 20th century for their own political and moral reasons! Finally, he talks to some of the world’s eminent evolutionary biologists, geneticists and philosophers to examine whether the latest advances in evolutionary theory do in fact kill God.

So his verdict is no, no-one “killed God”. In fact, Darwin’s theory actually expanded upon and enhanced the (necessary at that time) metaphorical explanation of Genesis.

I had another nice email exchange last week with my biologist friend, Dr. Doug Swartzentruber, a faculty research associate at Pepperdine University and Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Colorado (he's also an Anabaptist, theologically speaking) regarding his friendship and connection with Dr. Edward Larson - the author of this next article. Both of them attended the Darwin Conference held at Pepperdine recently, and Doug plans to send me a follow-up link on that and a paper he wrote. Larson recently authored and published this article (now posted online) entitled: “I Had No Intention to Write Atheistically”: Darwin, God, and the 2500-Year History of the Debate

In case you don't get to the end of the article to see this, Edward J. Larson is the author of six books and over forty articles relating to the history of the theory of evolution and its cultural impact including Evolution: The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory (Modern Library, 2004) and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate over Science and Religion (Basic Books, 2006). He teaches history and law at Pepperdine and lives in Georgia and California.

How is all this relevant to my life as a hospital chaplain?

Well, for one, I have some more "good stuff" to refer to in ongoing conversations with a colleague here in Canberra who functions as the main chaplain to the Humanists, whom I've experienced as being a very moral, socially progressive bunch, though atheistic or agnostic. He makes his living counseling people as a psychologist - and as a licensed Celebrant (weddings, funerals, and special ceremonies.) We like to talk and catch up with each other from time to time surrounding his patient visits or meetings we might be having at the hospital - and even read what each other has written sometimes. I'm very interested in how he might respond to all this - because he's very open to talking about my own questions that I discuss with him sometimes regarding the basis of his agnosticism.

For others interested in the intersections of science and faith, here are some other good resources I've picked up on from those posting their online responses to the programs and articles I've watched and read during this significant Darwin anniversary. I wonder, has anyone else here delved into any of these?

I find it very interesting that Dr. Francis Collins, the former director of the US National Human Genome Research Institute and current Director of the National Institutes of Health (see his book the “Language of God - a Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief”) is a former atheist. He now says that he can see there is a rational basis for a creator and that scientific discoveries actually bring one “closer to God" - and considers himself to be a theistic evolutionist with a belief system he calls BioLogos. A few months ago the BioLogos Foundation initiated this website.

Prof. John Polkinghorne, Professor of Mathematical Physics at Cambridge, who is distinguished in the field of elementary particle physics, has produced four significant works:

-The Quantum World [Princeton University Press]; Reason and Reality: The Relationship Between Science and Theology.Valley Forge, Pa.: Trinity Press International, 1991

-Quarks, Chaos and Christianity: Questions to Science and Religion. New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1996;

-The Quantum World. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1985

-The Faith of a Physicist: Reflections of a Bottom-Up Thinker. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996.

That last one is apparently a great introduction to Polkinghorne's thought on classical Christian doctrines. As always, it looks like I've got some more good reading to do!

Cheers,
Clair

On Getting American & Other Foreign Troops OUT of Afghanistan

I am impressed by a statement the Michiana Peace and Justice Coalition (peace and justice loving people in northern Indiana and south-western Michigan from all sorts of theological persuasions, including some agnostics and political anarchists) has been drafting to circulate among its members and community organizations. What follows below is a second draft, waiting for more comments before it becomes the official "policy" of MPJC.

In America and Australia and other countries with democratic governments, policy change usually comes from a groundswell of citizen opinion, powerful statements from church and community leaders, op-ed pieces in newspapers, and other local organizations to push their political leaders to do the right thing. It seems that it always takes a process like this to withdraw from involvements in the war-quagmires our nations get sucked into. (Click here for some clear-headed current analysis regarding the one in Afghanistan.)

So, how about it, if you think a statement like this is appropriate, then would you be willing to get some people together to draft something similar to publish in your local newspaper, distribute to community organizations, and send to your politicians? At least, create some healthy community discussion?

If you are without conviction - staying silent and trying not to "make waves" - then you are part of the problem instead of being a part of the solution. I don't think there is much middle ground on this issue - at least not from Jesus' point of view as I understand it.

So, if you claim to be a Jesus-follower, a good place to start is to ask yourself the next time you are with your fellow believers: if he were in your midst (and he is, isn't he?) what do you think Jesus would have to say about the increasingly obvious results of America's (and Australia's and .....) involvement in Afghanistan?

Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..."

-Clair Hochstetler in Canberra

******************************************************************

MPJC position on withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

The United States attacked Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11/2001 attack on the twin towers, after the Taliban refused or was unable to turn over the al Qaida leadership to the UN, and now the U.S. has a moral obligation to repair the damage it caused. MPJC believed in 2001 that the correct policy was to use police forces to bring the leaders of Al Qaida to justice, not start a war of revenge on an entire country. Coalition members still believe that the United States must set an early deadline (a few months) to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. Civilians who would be in imminent danger of death should be evacuated as well.

In all likelihood there will be dangers to Afghanis when the United States pulls out. The Taliban is likely to regain control of the country and reinstitute severe social practices. The situation for women which has improved marginally since 2001 would likely deteriorate. MPJC is deeply concerned about the suffering of Afghanis both now and after the withdrawal, but believes that it is the responsibility of Afghan citizens, not the U.S. or the world community, to bring about changes in their government and way of life nonviolently.

The following quote has been taken from the National Priorities Project website page -- The Cost of War in Afghanistan (www.nationalpriorities.org). The legitimacy of the Afghan government per the October 2009 elections is more open to question than ever before.

"Today the Kabul government is losing support among the Afghan people. The Taliban and other insurgent groups are gaining recruits because there is neither basic security nor jobs. Corruption and an unwillingness to address human rights abuses have undermined support for the government. The behavior of foreign troops has often violated cultural norms and created fear and humiliation. Practices like night raids, use of drones and aerial bombardments tend to increase support for insurgents. As the conflict widens, meager education and health services become even more limited. People in Afghanistan have consistently called for basic services, food, civilian rule of law and healthy institutions that can be trusted. As one of the poorest countries on earth, Afghanistan will continue to need aid and outside investment for years to come."

After eight years of war, the United States has a moral obligation to restore the homes and infrastructure that have been destroyed, but the rebuilding can only begin after the foreign troops have departed and their bases have been dismantled. We acknowledge that the Taliban is unlikely to be receptive to any aid for rebuilding from the U.S., but believe that continued presence of coalition troops is steadily drawing more support for the Taliban, making it more likely that the Afghanis will welcome the Taliban when the inevitable withdrawal occurs. The first step is to get the troops out.

Michiana Peace and Justice Coalition website: http://community.michiana.org/justice/

Feedback and comments can be sent to:

Peter Smith
Professor Emeritus of Math and CS, Saint Mary's College: www.saintmarys.edu/~psmith
Facilitator, Michiana Peace and Justice Coalition: www.michianapeacejustice.org
Webmaster, National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee: www.nwtrcc.org

Author, Editor, and Treasurer, Academy of Process Educators: www.processeducation.org

Publicity Director, Association of Small Computer Users in Education: www.ascue.org

A Blessing-of-Hands During Pastoral Care Week at The Canberra Hospital

You are invited to view the photo album I posted on 'the web': "Our Blessing-of-Hands Ceremony 28 October 2009 at The Canberra Hospital" which was held in a courtyard just outside our chapel. This turned out to be a very significant highlight during our celebration of International Pastoral Care Week this year -- a "first" here at TCH.

I originally designed and coordinated this multi-faith service, but the event included the preparation and involvement of approximately 30 to 35 others chaplains and volunteer pastoral carers in our department - as well as a dozen or so colleagues from many other parts of the hospital. (I had earlier "bribed" the hospital staff to come by putting a little advertisment on the top lid of 25 tins of cookies, and then we took them around to various parts of the hospital to let them know what was happening during Pastoral Care Week here. Obviously that strategy worked - that, plus offering the food after the 15-minute service!)

Among some other things that were first said or shared, the ceremony included a couple minutes of reflection about the nature of pastoral care, utilizing a piece I'd adapted from something Dr. Alan Wolfelt had originally written about "companioning" and which is now entitled "Pastoral Care is..." :

Pastoral care is about honouring the spirit; it is not about focusing on the intellect.

Pastoral care is about curiosity; it is not about expertise.

Pastoral care is about learning from others; it is not about teaching them.

Pastoral care is about walking alongside; it is not about leading.

Pastoral care is about being still; it is not about frantic movement forward.

Pastoral care is about discovering the gifts of sacred silence; it is not about filling every painful moment with words.

Pastoral care is about listening with the heart; it is not about analysing with the head.

Pastoral care is about bearing witness to the struggles of others; it is not about directing those struggles.

Pastoral care is about being present to another person’s pain; it is not about taking away the pain.

Pastoral care is about respecting disorder and confusion; it is not about imposing order and logic.

Pastoral care is about going to the wilderness of the soul with another human being; it is not about thinking you are responsible for finding the way out.

Pastoral care is about being with someone as they seek meaning, purpose and hope on the journey of life; it is not about imposing easy answers.

---
We then invited everyone to join in this litany:

Blessed Be These Hands:

Blessed be these hands that have touched life.
Blessed be these hands that have felt pain and tiredness.
Blessed be these hands that have lovingly embraced others with compassion.
Blessed be these hands that have been clinched in anger, or been withdrawn in fear.
Blessed be these hands that have drawn blood and administered medicine, written policies, protected patients, made progress notes, and cut through red tape.
Blessed be these hands that have cleaned bodies and beds, and disposed of wastes.
Blessed be these hands that have anointed the sick and suffering, offered blessings and prayers.
Blessed be these hands, some still smooth with youth - some that have grown stiffer with age.
Blessed be these hands that have comforted the dying and held the dead.
Blessed be these hands and all the creativity they engage.
Blessed be these hands, for with them we hold the future.
Blessed be our hands, for they are the work of your hands, O Holy One.

After that was read, all who wished could come forward to have their own hands anointed with oil, with the words of assurance: "May what is soiled be cleansed. May what is wounded be healed. Go in the strength of this blessing!"


All - including some patients and family members nearby in the courtyard who observed all this and said they, too, felt touched by the experience - were invited to join in with our special Morning Tea afterward. Many said they would like to see this experience repeated again next year - or even more often!

The collection of 21 photos were taken by Aili O'Flaherty, pastoral carer practitioner on the Uniting Church Team at TCH. Not all participants are pictured, obviously, but these shots are representative of activity that occurred.

Simply move the "slider" at the top of this collection further to the right if you want to enlarge the photos as you view the collection - or click on them individually.

I made some laminated bookmarks after the event to give to the many chaplains and volunteer pastoral care practitioners in our department, utilizing one of these photos and including the following prayer of "Blessing For the Work of Our Hands":

May our hands and all that they do be blessed.

May they be strong, creative, and gentle.

May the Spirit guide them.

May they provide comfort and healing.

May their touch remind patients of God’s divine grace and mercy.

May they work with compassion, and may they also play and rest in good measure.

May they feel beauty, create peace, and clap with joy.

May our hands and all that they do be blessed.

Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands! (Psalm 90:17)

-Clair

"War Made Easy" & Speaking Out Against the Afghanistan Quagmire We're Into

For powerful insights into the contributions of mainstream media in America, and those it serves in promoting militarism and war, you might consider watching the video "War Made Easy" online (the last link in the list below.)

War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death - Featuring Norman Solomon and narrated by Sean Penn - Media Education Foundation 73 minutes 2007

Home Page and Trailer

Synopsis

About Norman Solomon

* Don't miss checking out this video copy on the web!

Re: "War Made Easy," below find Harvey Wasserman's take on the New York Times and Pentagon's attempts to sell an escalation of troops in Afghanistan to the public:

Beware a Times/Pentagon 'Virtual Coup' on Afghanistan - Harvey Wasserman - CommonDreams 10/25/09

And this is Wasserman's take on Tom Friedman's recent reversal of support for an escalation in Afghanistan:

Is This Tom Friedman's 'Walter Cronkite Moment' on Afghanistan? - Harvey Wasserman - CommonDreams 10/29/09


So, what can people of conscience be doing and saying right now? Well, here are a couple of good examples:

Below find a link to Ann Wright's excellent article on "government employees who have the strength of character and courage to tell [the public and] their Presidents and Prime Ministers when they and their policies have no clothes.

"An American Diplomat and a British Soldier Tell Their Leaders They Have No Clothes: No to the Afghanistan War Strategy" - Ann Wright - CommonDreams 10/28/09

More Schools, Not Troops - Nicholas Kristof - Op-Ed, New York Times 10/29/09

A brief excerpt from Kristof provides a taste:

[Dispatching more troops to Afghanistan would be a monumental bet and probably a bad one, most likely a waste of lives and resources that might simply empower the Taliban. In particular, one of the most compelling arguments against more troops rests on this stunning trade-off: For the cost of a single additional soldier stationed in Afghanistan for one year, we could build roughly 20 schools there.

It’s hard to do the calculation precisely, but for the cost of 40,000 troops over a few years — well, we could just about turn every Afghan into a Ph.D.

The hawks respond: It’s naïve to think that you can sprinkle a bit of education on a war-torn society. It’s impossible to build schools now because the Taliban will blow them up.

In fact, it’s still quite possible to operate schools in Afghanistan — particularly when there’s a strong “buy-in” from the local community.Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea,” has now built 39 schools in Afghanistan and 92 in Pakistan — and not one has been burned down or closed.

The aid organization CARE has 295 schools educating 50,000 girls in Afghanistan, and not a single one has been closed or burned by the Taliban.

The Afghan Institute of Learning, another aid group, has 32 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with none closed by the Taliban (although local communities have temporarily suspended three for security reasons).

In short, there is still vast scope for greater investment in education, health and agriculture in Afghanistan. These are extraordinarily cheap and have a better record at stabilizing societies than military solutions, which, in fact, have a pretty dismal record.]


(I do want to provide attribution to friend and professor at St. Mary's in South Bend, Indiana - Joseph Miller - for alerting me to all this "good stuff" which I deem is quite important for us to be passing along to our own networks of communication and circles of friends.)

It all gives me great pause and wonderment: Who is doing the parallel work, offering critique in the Australian context and especially within op-ed columns of this nation's newspapers as witness to the Rudd administration -- giving prophetic warning to NOT following the leader (America) straight into this quagmire? (If you know of good examples - and especially if you can provide some good links - please post them in the comments section below.)

Australia got out of Iraq early, and it can and should get out of Afghanistan on its own, as well.

-Clair

Freeing Up The Saints From Their Hallmark Holidays!

You may be asking yourself "OK, Halloween is just around the corner again, so how am I going to deal with it THIS year?" Well, here's a stimulating resource I stumbled across this evening providing some "grist for the mill." It's written by Christine Sine, a member of the Mustard Seed Associates along with her husband Tom.

The last half of the article addresses a creative alternative way to get to the real meaning behind Halloween (All Hallows Eve) into which our culture is about to descend.

Also, here is a link to the MSA "alternative" calendar, described thus:

The events on our new calendar are divided into three general categories:

-Religious Observances: Deeper exploration of the Christian Liturgical Calendar.

-Celebrations: Innovative ideas for communities, local churches and families to celebrate in fun, whimsical, life-affirming ways, involving food, creativity, sharing and engaging with others.

- Activism: Suggestions and information about how to engage in global and local justice and need.

I think this is quite relevant as general guidance for families and individuals seeking to deepen their spiritual life during holidays -and fill those holidays with real meaning!

-Clair

Seeking to end the ‘ancestral fire’ of violence in Africa...

One man's vision for Africa as the future land of peace - Titus Oyeyemi leads APPLI (African Peace and Love Initiatives) in Nigeria.

Read all about it in this week's online edition of Mennonite Weekly Review. More board members and funding are being sought. I know Titus and his family personally and have been supporting this important outreach for many years. Here is one thing in Nigeria that DOES have integrity! If reading the article sparks your interest - or if you want more information, just ask! -Clair

GRANDMA'S HANDS

This powerful poem was sent to me by a colleague I was collaborating with while pulling together material for an interfaith "Blessing of Hands" service we are having here at the hospital. I've issued an open invitation for any staff from any department - and any religious background - who want to come to feel free to attend. This is a special ceremony we are trying for the first time this year during International Pastoral Care Week. (We will be using the photo you see below on the front of the service program - though the poem doesn't quite fit. But if anyone wants to see the outline and script I designed for this, just ask!) -Clair

---

GRANDMA'S HANDS

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she said in a clear voice strong.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?"

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.

They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.

They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

"They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken,dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

"These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.

But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.

- Author Unknown

Footprints - or Buttprints - in the Sand ?!

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND - By Mary Stevenson, 1936

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life
when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, "You promised me, Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always.
But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of prints in the sand.
Why, when I have needed you most, you have not been there for me?
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
is when I carried you." (Source)

I'm quite confident that our Lord who invites us all to come to him when the load is heavy can help bear us up (cf. Matthew 11:29-30) and that he did indeed inspire Mary Stevenson to pen such a beautiful poetic reflection. So many people the world over have been inspired by it.

However, I am also sure that my Lord, who cleared the temple and chastised the leaders of the children of God, also inspired the following "companion piece" by an unknown author (as yet - I'm still seeking that out.)

BUTTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night I had a wondrous dream.
One set of footprints there was seen,
the footprints of my precious Lord,
but mine were not along the shore.

But then some stranger prints appeared
and I asked the Lord, "What have we here?
Those prints are large and round and neat,
but, Lord, they are too large for feet."

"My child," he said in sober tones,
"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
but you refused and made me wait."

"You disobeyed, you would not grow.
The walk of faith you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
and there I dropped you on your butt."

Comments?

The Fabulous "Floriade" in Canberra - last Saturday

One sample from a whole collection of shots we took of these amazing flowers and bonsai trees gracing our neck of the woods — at the annual (month-long) “Floriade” right here in Canberra. Enjoy our whole set here.