As Geno noted faith is a deeply personal thing. It has long been part of this board, back to the earliest days I can remember that persons offered prayers, blessings and wishes to each other in times of loss or need of healing. I have appreciated many of those when they were directed my way in the past.
Back on Patriots' Day in the aftermath of the bombing I posted an old prayer attributed to St. Patrick which included a section of prayers invoking the name of Christ. I did this, specifically, because Boston is a city with large numbers of Irish Catholic police and emergency workers. It is part of the heritage of Boston. The prayer known as The Breastplate of St. Patrick was chosen for context, for people who were busy serving in harms' way and for whom St. Patrick has as special place. It is a prayer remembering and seeking God's guardianship. Some board members did not like the repetitive naming of Christ and objected to the moderators who then asked me to stop offering prayers in a broader context. I would gladly have adapted it, but simply followed its historic form.
No one is more aware of the conflict that religious expression can produce than pastors. We see it within and between faith communities and individuals. Sometimes we, as pastors, even cause that division by nothing more than our presence. To pretend or act as if religion is not part of the world and the lives of people is nonsense but at the same time one must always ask will an expression of faith or belief help heal or divide in this context. Will prayer add or is it simply a distraction. I have seldom found it impossible to offer healing without at the same time respecting the belief or disbelief of others but it takes awareness and respect for others. I have limited my offerings of prayers since April out of the respect for the request from our moderators.
No, offering best wishes is not the same as offering prayers or blessings to another nor is it fatal to hear the expression of G-d, Father, Christ, Spirit, Vishnu, Buddha, or any other name by which someone relates to whatever greater power they perceive and whom they follow. Nor does it do me any harm when someone chooses to not share my belief or any belief.
Let us be patient one another and allow each a small space of freedom to express compassion for one another as we might each see fit and let us, also, limit ourselves and our personal faith that it does not become a burden upon our neighbor.
Two weeks ago I attended a memorial for a man who was tragically struck by a car and killed on Christmas Eve. Dave had been a member of the local ISHKON community. The memorial was a glorious celebration of Dave's life and his love of music as a guitar instructor. Numerous acts and students came and played. They included members of the ISHKON community who led a drum circle and singing of traditional hymn "Hare Krishna." Yes, the one whose words many of us learned from George Harrison. At one point another person I know who is not a part of the ISHKON community invited me to get up and dance with their community. I refused and she wondered why. I told her that I did not dance out of respect for that community of faith. I said, "It is their faith and I do not know whether to join in is to respect or disrespect their tradition so I'll sit and listen enjoying their expression of the faith that is theirs." I believe they would do the same for me. I know Dave would have.
Let's hold each other in respect.
I apologize for the length I hope it helps us all guide our choices.
