2021 October Notes From West Mountain The Rev. Mark Diters
PERSPECTIVE on Our Moment
Just a little while ago I ventured onto a swing ride at 6 Flags New England amusement park. It was the Sky Screamer, it boasts that it is the highest swing of its kind: over 400 feet in the air spinning at 35 miles per hour. Whether or not it is the highest, it felt like it was way too high. I could see the whole park, and down the Connecticut River to Hartford. I could see Springfield of course. And for a moment I thought I could see the Atlantic Ocean, but I am sure I was mistaken. We were whipping around at an energetic clip and between the wind threatening my eye glasses and clothing nearly blowing off, it was more traumatic than I was ready for.
But as I was able to catch my breath and composure I became aware of just how much I could see and take in. I had a fuller perspective upon where I was.
Jesus spent some time in high places. Sometimes it was to allow his voice to be heard as in the Sermon on the Mount. Sometimes it was to find a place where he could be alone. Other times it was to pray. It was on a high mountain that Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus joined by Moses and Elijah in the moment of Transfiguration. Yet I have a hunch that there and then as in the here and now, Jesus felt that being at a height and over his surroundings allowed him to know his
It would seem that in most cases the view is greater from above and beyond. When we rise above a moment or get past a circumstance or an event, we gain a broader range of vision. When we are “above it all” or have “hindsight”, we can make sense of our lives and our selves in ways not possible in the present moment.
It has been eighteen months since the COVID 19 pandemic shut down our world. As of September 28th, over 4,700,000 deaths have been recorded. Which sadly under-represents the actual number that have occurred. In our own nation, over 700,000 have died.
The pandemic shed light upon our underlying cultural injustices and inequality, it seemed to cement our human divisions, in ways it seemed to give license for poor behavior, and it exposed so many raw nerves in our collective body.
At the same time, we have been witness to human kindness and giving. We have seen selfless acts after selfless acts of human compassion and care. The struggle is ongoing.
So with perspective…what is the “lay of the land”…In the “big picture” our humanity has been on show for all of us to see. We are human in our weaknesses and in our strengths. We are human in our aspirations and dreams as in our fears and longings. Our task, collectively and on our own parts, is to witness to the love of God as expressed in our faith out-turned. We are to live into our moments loving, serving and creating anew. We will emerge from this time sooner or later. My prayer is that what we are learning in the here and now will become a foundation for more understanding and an authentic basis for the future.
OCTOBER BOARD OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE SECOND MILE OFFERING – IRIS
Integrated Refugee Immigration Services – Afghan Refugee Relief
For over 30 years, IRIS has been caring for refugee families arriving in Connecticut, connecting them with housing, jobs, food and support. The organization has resettled some of the 2500 Afghan refugees who have been granted Special Immigration Visas for aiding U.S. troops and is anticipating more. Gov. Lamont has recently announced that as many as 310 Afghan refugees will soon call Connecticut home in the coming months.
The Flagg Road UCC has helped IRIS with the resettlement of Syrian refugee families, specifically the Al Asmi family several years ago. Please refer to Rev. Mark’s email of Monday, September 27th, that gives details about an Afghan refugee co-sponsorship program being formed in the Hartford area.
Website: https//irisct.org/communitycosponsorship/
The October Second Mile Offering is dedicated to raising funds to help IRIS continue their relief efforts for newly arriving Afghan refugee families. Please consider contributing to this vital cause.
More information regarding IRIS’s work can be found at irisct.org.
