The Force Be With You

I am not the fanatic that my sister is nor do I come close to my son or my husband’s expertise, but I do love Star Wars and kept a goofy grin on my face throughout most of the new Force Awakens as I watched it with my husband and children.

My son and I also greatly enjoy curling up on Saturday mornings to watch the new Star Wars Rebels cartoons. And even before he somewhat patiently began begging for a Star Wars Advent calendar, I was already feeling compelled to buy him one.

I am glad that he has fallen in love with the Star Wars series and enjoy hearing him talking with his friends through the issues of the movies and books. I hear echoes of the same conversations and debates that my sister and I shared playing in the front yard or gathered around the playground with our friends.

To talk through the trials and tribulations of the Rebellion is to consider the ultimate battle of light and dark and of good and evil. It raises the question of hierarchy, domination or superiority in society and how to give hope and show bravery, kindness and empathy when faced with fear and challenges in life.

The Rebels aren’t out for gain or glory; they are fighting for fairness and the right to life. There is a great beauty to the Rebellion’s protection of the innocent as well as the preservation of creation. Moving beyond ego to recognize the good of the whole certainly is a powerful story that rises again and again.

The movies and book emphasize a higher positive power that cannot be seen but can be felt and believed in with faith. The Force enables individuals to realize their true gifts and to use them to combat the dark side. It empowers simple people to greatness, and strength comes from believing. Even when facing great obstacles, the characters of Star Wars realize that The Force is with them, and they courageously charge to take their stand against the dark side. “May the Force be with you” is repeated time and time again. Knowing The Force is on their side, they have hope.

In Hank Stuever’s article “George Lucas: To feel the true force of ‘Star Wars” for the Washington Post on December 5, 2015, he wrote, “Lucas wanted to make a movie that would teach children the central ethic of right and wrong, good and evil. ‘I want[ed] to see if I can bend their lives at a particular point in time when they’re very vulnerable,’ he recalls, ‘and give them the things that we’ve always given kids throughout history. The last time we had done it was with the Western. And once the Western was gone, there was no vehicle to say, ‘You don’t shoot people in the back’ and such.’”

While recently watching Disney’s “Legacy” episode of Star Wars Rebels with my son, Ezra, one of the show’s main characters, had a vision of his parents from whom he had been separated and who he sadly realized must be dead.

“You are going to need to stay strong…,” said his father. His mother continued, “Remember, Ezra, without hope we have nothing.”

As Ezra considered the loss of his parents and the task facing the Rebel force, his mentor Kanan said to him, “The Jedi teach that life doesn’t cease at death but merely changes form with The Force. Your parents are alive in you, Ezra; they will be always.”

Each Sunday, our family and many more across the world greet each other saying “Peace be with you.” We are purposely making the effort to connect and to remember and realize that we are all a part of the great Kingdom. There is strength and comfort to be found in this shared community and story, and it does not end with death. We each have the peace of God within us to celebrate the joy of life and to challenge the dark side.

The story of the Kingdom is repeated again and again; it is ongoing. Generations take time to nurture the story in their children. Star Wars. Jesus. They are good stories.

The Peace be with you. The Force be with you. Have hope. 

With love and light, 

LT

In the beginning was the Word

Baptized at the age of one or so in the Episcopal Church, I grew up feeling quite confident that I had a good understanding of Christianity. I knew God was amazing and that I was loved unconditionally. I sang with gusto during worship services. The Nicene Creed fascinated me. I had the Prayers of the People and Communion memorized and served diligently most Sundays as an acolyte. We had a dedicated youth group with close relationships and fantastic adult mentors to teach our Sunday School classes. Yes, growing up Episcopalian was pretty awesome! I seemed to have this church thing all figured out.

In my late twenties, I was thrilled to be asked to be a godmother. Determined to take my duties seriously, I showed up for the baptismal classes to prepare for this new responsibility. The class began by reviewing The Baptismal Covenant. As the priest led a discussion of the questions and answers we would be called to give on behalf of our godchildren, my heart started to pound a little harder. The first part was easy; do you believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Yes! But quickly, I realized this was feeling more complicated. Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship… (wait, what does that mean?) Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? (Uh,oh) Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ? (Ummm) Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? (Oh, goodness…am I doing all of this?) Book of Common Prayer, pg 304

Although still very much looking forward to becoming a godmother, I was suddenly feeling ill equipped. I had a great start, but I was realizing God may be even greater than I had imagined thus far, and it was time to start seeing how I could live more fully into my Christian faith. So, I started at the beginning…The Word.

Our priests at Calvary were very supportive of my little quest. They visited with me about different ways to approach studying the Bible. They helped me organize study groups. We started small but stayed dedicated. It turns out there were others seeking more, too, and the Bible studies grew. We had big questions and invited the Holy Spirit to help us with the answers. We kept it simple and didn’t require homework. We just committed to showing up once a week. I kind of tear up thinking about how this simple approach brought such a magnitude of joy to my life and to others.

Looking back, I realize I started studying the Bible in the same way that I had been approaching my faith. It was a very insular pattern. Church had worked for me thus far, but it was just me and God. This baptism, this invitation, opened up a window in my soul that I didn’t even realize was there or that I needed it. It reminded me that not only was there more to God and what God was asking of me, but there was also more to Church.

I will thank God for all my days for the way that Bible Study

• helped me to better understand Jesus and His amazing gift and example;
• enabled me to trust and call on God for help;
• gave me insight and empathy into the lives and experiences of others;
• taught me to be quiet and to listen;
• blessed me with cherished friendships and a support system that defies description;
• challenged me to do more that means more;
• opened up my concept of ministry, calling and community;
• brought me peace and increased my capacity to love.

My baptism and my goddaughter’s mark two important chapters in my life. My Episcopal upbringing gave me an incredibly joyful faith foundation, but the addition of Bible study gave me the true Church and connected me to the Kingdom of God. I hope it will do the same for you!

“Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the forgiveness of sin, and have raised them to the new life of grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage and will to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.”

Book of Common Prayer, pg 308

This post was originally published as an article for the June 1, 2015 Chronicle (a great issue I encourage you to read more of) for Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee. On hiatus since Lent, I was thankful for the "ask" to write and the call back to With Love and Light, LT. I've missed you and me. Glad to be back.

The Yellow Brick Road Discovery

I recently sat with my children while they watched “The Wizard of Oz” for the first time. We ended up all wrapped up in a chair together, small legs and arms all entwined, as they weren’t quite sure what to make of The Wicked Witch of the West. We started a practice of sticking out our tongues and blowing her a raspberry every time she arrived on screen.

While we were listening to the merry tunes and watching the traveling companions make their way down the yellow brick road, I reflected on what was really limiting Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. It was Lion that got me started.

 

Towards the climactic end, fearful, scaredy cat Lion led the pack of friends up the mountain to rescue Dorothy. Despite his fear, he was brave. He just didn’t recognize it. His self-consciousness wouldn’t let him admit that he was already courageous even in the face of danger. I said out loud to my children, “See, you can be scared and brave at the same time.”

As I watched Lion lead the way, I thought through how Dorothy and each of her friends had been unaware of the gifts they already possessed. Even without a brain, so he thought, Scarecrow knew which way to go to get to Oz. It was the first way he directed Dorothy to go. He also saved the day when he realized that with the swing of Tin Man’s ax he could help his company escape from the Wicked Witch’s soldiers. He had those smarts all along. He just didn’t trust himself because surely a lowly Scarecrow could not think of such simple greatness.

From the moment we met Tin Man, he exuded kindness. The tone of his voice and kindness towards Dorothy and Scarecrow was evident, and throughout their adventures he continued to provide them positive encouragement time and time again. His empathy brought tears to his eyes. If that’s not heart, I don’t know what is.

Sweet Dorothy…the way home was with her all along. She only had to believe. She had to realize that she was running away from love. She had been surrounded by family and friends who caught her when she fell, stood up to wickedness even though at the time they felt powerless, waited patiently for her return and joyously celebrated as she opened her eyes.

I hope and pray that you find the positive inspiration you need to discover the unique and wonderful you and that you recognize how deeply you are loved.

• Are you on a search? Who/what are the positive or negative voices of reason in your life? Are you listening to them?
• What gifts and talents are you not recognizing or accepting in yourself?
• What is holding you back from accepting and using your gifts and talents?