Chapel, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010
[1 min. of an unidentified contemporary jazz arrangement of “Simple Gifts” by piano and
bass, accompaniment only, no melody]
This week, the focus is on “Discerning God’s Call.” This chapter in On Our Way is full
of rich insight into the process of finding God’s purpose for our lives. If only for the
many wise quotations ranging from Quaker to Catholic, and Georgia O’Keefe to Rilke, it
will reward your careful reading.
Naturally, I read this chapter in light of my own work as a musician, and would like to
invite you to think about finding vocation through the metaphor of listening and
performing. What Paul and I just played is an accompaniment waiting for a solo, a
background, a musical context. It’s a little bit like Vale of Paradise University.
Generally pleasant, but with a rhythm and harmony that doesn’t necessarily make a lot of
sense on first hearing. And it has passages of barely-controlled chaos. But it’s an
accompaniment, it only makes sense when a soloist steps in to provide a melody, brings
his or her gifts into it, giving direction and meaning.
Our hymn of the day [Simple Gifts] comes from a millennialist sect which, because of
their ecstatic worship and dance tradition became known as the Shakers. Today’s hymn
includes references to dance movements: “to bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed” and
“‘til by turning, turning we come ‘round right.” For the Shakers, these movements serve
as metaphor for finding one’s place in community. 1:45
It is a gift to be simple, free, and to come down where we ought to be. But getting there
is not simple. I am reminded of a favorite quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.: “I
wouldn’t give a fig for simplicity on this side of complexity, but I would give my life for
simplicity on the other side of complexity.”
In “Discerning God’s Call,” the author observes that recognizing our vocation requires
careful listening, and the feedback of others. What she suggests is a life-long
commitment to:
Becoming aware of God’s movement in our lives. This involves discovering, cultivating,
pursuing, and practicing our talents, desires and interests. This active work is balanced
by
Reflecting on God’s movement in our lives prayerfully alone and with others, and
Taking loving action on what we have learned.
The author’s reflection on how to differentiate between life-giving and destructive desire
is crucial, and includes reflection on the text I read for today [Gal. 5:22-25]. We listen to
our interests and desires, and observe in what ways acting on them we and others best
experience the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness,
generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Twenty-odd years ago, I sought the help of an analyst, and in our first meeting I rather
aggressively asked him what his agenda was for his clients. He said that he tries to help
them find “the deep trend in their life, what could be called God’s Will.” His training
and experience enabled him to also see the signs of this deep trend in the afflictions and
suffering of his analysands. This insight has served me well. Indeed, I have come to
realize with Kirkegaard that longing is God’s gift, and that maturity does not come except
as a response to adversity. And we continue to seek our vocation in faith that God is
present through good choices and bad, and continues to use our imperfect offerings to
serve the world.
So, as Sean brings his gift to our musical offering, I invite you to reflect on how each of
us brings gifts to our context, which we discover and refine through exercising them.
And in our postlude, our improvisations will reflect a new creation.
[Same one minute segment with tenor saxophone added playing the “Simple Gifts”
melody with piano and bass.]
Dennis Friesen-Carper, Department of Music