Remembering Earth Day

Charleston: Return of the Blue Sky on Earth Day

"Did you notice any stories about the return of the blue sky? Unfortunately, there were not many of them, and they were usually tucked away behind other news reports that seemed much more critical. But they were there: the return of clear skies above cities like Los Angeles, which had not been seen for generations. As the traffic level declined, the pollution declined, and the clear sky appeared like a sign from heaven. It is a visual aid to show us that positive change is possible on the other side of COVID-19. Not just for the environment but our whole society. The blue skies can return for us in many ways if we have the courage to change."—Bishop Steven Charleston's Facebook Page.

Ted Soqui NBC News

Yesterday, we celebrated the 54th anniversary of Earth Day. In a past year, Bishop Charleston reminded us that trying to stop this pandemic had given our planet a rest. As a result, pollution and greenhouse emissions fell across the world. For example, India's capital, New Delhi, is one of the world's most polluted cities. But its skies were now blue, and many could see the Himalayas Mountains for the first time.

Researchers found a 5 to 10% decrease in air pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, in New York. Carbon monoxide emissions dropped by 50%. Grounding flights, reducing cars on the road, and shutting down businesses and factories brought about the change. Some predicted we might reach the Paris Climate Accord goals even sooner. In Venice, canal water was so clear that fish were easily seen. This may be because there are no boats and people in its waters. But environmentalists warn all this could be temporary. 

Today, all of this has been at a great expense—the death of over one million people in our own country and over 6.91 million worldwide. We can only guess what it will be tomorrow if we have another flare-up of infections.  

Bishop Charleston tells us to give thanks for the blue sky, honor its presence, imagine ways to keep the skies blue, and never forget the cost in the lives of so many who died. There must be another way to save our planet that is not so costly.

Joanna. Joannaseibert.com. https://www.joannaseibert.com/

Learning to Read Spiritual Signs

Charleston: Learning to Read Spiritual Signs

“You have seen the signs around you for some time now. You are beginning to understand which way the wind is blowing. The spiritual life is not an exercise of imagination, but of interpretation. We see the signs. It is understanding them as a coherent message that takes skill. The handwriting on the wall tells us nothing unless we have learned to read.”—Bishop Steven Charleston, Facebook Page.

“Learning to read the signs on the wall.” Bishop Charleston gives us a good metaphor for living and discerning the spiritual life. As spiritual friends, we help each other see where God works in our lives. We have friends helping us connect the dots, suggesting that a storm may be coming when we miss the signs. We are called to remember how God led us in our past. We have seen the signs in the past. When one of us cannot presently see the signs of God alive in our lives, those who can see help each other.

This is why God calls us to a community. We cannot do this alone. Our spiritual exercises, prayer, contemplation, study, Centering Prayer, the labyrinth, praying the Rosary, and intentional walking help us interpret the handwriting on the wall—the hand of God caring for us, leading us, and never abandoning us. We practice some spiritual disciplines by ourselves; others, such as corporate worship, we do together. Whether we experience these disciplines alone or jointly, we are called to share what we learn with each other. Discernment about where we should go or what action to take next is most effectively realized in a community.

I have friends who sit alone and meditate and say they perceive the direction God calls them to in their lives. By listening, they find out what they should do. All the better for them. I could never do this except on rare occasions.

My experience is that others see signs I have missed, and the course of action I should take is readily apparent to them. All of this, of course, involves much trust and life in a community.

I was continually amazed at how our children, grandchildren, and some elderly learned to stay connected during the pandemic—Zoom, Facebook Live, game apps such as Kahoot and Scrabble GO, watching movies together, Watch2gether, Netflix Party. But, of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg! Isn’t it wonderful that we learn to do all these things from our younger generation!

Joanna. joannaseibert.com.  https://www.joannaseibert.com/

Koinonia

Koinonia

“All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.”—Acts 2: 44-45.

In her brilliant sermon on June 3, 2018, Patricia Matthews reminds us of the winning word in last year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee that weekend: Koinonia.

You can read Patricia’s sermon online at the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Little Rock website, or listen to it on St. Mark’s Facebook page. Fourteen-year-old Karthik Nemmani from McKinney, Texas correctly spells this word of Greek origin, meaning Christian fellowship or communion with God. It refers primarily to fellowship with other Christians in community. Patricia reminds us that this 91st National Spelling Bee, with its 515 qualified participants, was televised on none other than ESPN, a sports network where we more often watch football, basketball, baseball, or soccer!

When I heard the winning word that weekend and Sunday from Patricia, my heart skipped a beat. Koinonia had been on my heart for almost a week. Langley, our oldest granddaughter, had just graduated from high school and was headed to the University of Georgia. I had been praying about how I could support her in this decision. The answer came as I read a review of two books about Clarence Jordan in The Christian Century.

I want to remind Langley about Mr. Jordan, perhaps one of the most outstanding graduates of the University of Georgia. His competency in Greek led him to produce his “Cotton Patch” version of the New Testament, as he strove to communicate the Bible’s message in everyday language. Jordan also founded Koinonia Farm as a farming community of believers sharing their lives and resources, following the example of the first Christian communities. Out of this movement came Habitat for Humanity International by Millard Fuller, and later The Fuller Center for Housing, as well as Jubilee Partners and much support for the Civil Rights Movement.

Also, that Sunday at our church, a group of women met to begin discernment toward creating a Daughters of the King chapter at St. Mark’s. Daughters of the King also seek koinonia—specifically fellowship with other women who want a more profound spirituality and relationship to God through prayer, service, and evangelism.

I will keep koinonia on my heart for a few more years to see if I observe any more serendipitous connections of synchronicity in our world.

Now, four years later, that newly formed Grace Chapter of Daughters of the King at St. Mark’s numbers 40 women who meet monthly, praying every day for every member of this congregation and the needs of the world. During the pandemic, the Daughters began a new ministry, reaching out to women in prison who have requested books to read. The ministry is called Free Read and was the brainchild of Tandy Cobb Willis. It has now expanded to be a ministry of the whole church.

Since this writing, we have traveled to Texas, El Dorado, Shreveport, Memphis, and Springfield, Missouri, to meet with other women of the Daughters of the King.

I now love hearing about our grandchildren’s adventures and connections, since we travel less and less.

 Langley has now graduated from Georgia and will be on her way to law school at NYU to study international law. Zoe will soon be a junior at Tulane, where she has experienced koinonia New Orleans’ style! This summer, she leaves for Copenhagen to study abroad for a semester. Mac is going to Spain in a few weeks to study sports management in Madrid. Gray is going to Kentucky to study art, and Turner will be in the honors college at the University of Arkansas studying engineering.

Elizabeth is learning how to drive.

Our community continues to expand as we hear stories of connections now from all over the country and the world.

The Koinonia continues.

First DOK group in 2018

Joanna. joannaseibert.com https://www.joannaseibert.com/