Friday, September 3, 2010

Flesh into Bread


We have been in the Sub-Continent now for three days. This has been a time of acclimatization in every sense of the word. The sights, sounds, smells, tastes and thoughts that I have experienced have been unlike any in my life. Whether it be the saffron parade of some Hindus including an elephant carrying an representation of a Hindu God or the sounds of the local Mosques call to prayer (I can distinctly hear three when) or the taste of all of the new food or the distinct smells of India. It has all been new to me. And, no matter how much you prepare mentally for this immersion I think it is safe to say you can never be fully prepared. Part of this must also come from the stark realization that these will, over the course of the year, become somewhat common place to me in my daily life.
Thomas John Achen, Kochamma, and Binu have been so wonderful in how they are handling our entry into this new environment. Achen teaches us Malayalam and cultural lessons. Binu continues these lessons with history, politics, music, etc. And, most importantly, Kochamma has the difficult task of slowly familiarizing our bodies with the food. With the touch of a master chef and the care of a mother she is slowly bringing us into the world of Indian food. Starting with more bland and less spicy foods and slowly working our way up. Last night at dinner she smiled to us after our meal was finished and said, “Today I included one pepper in the curry”— small steps to a larger goal.
As our minds and bodies become more accustomed to our surroundings we begin to take on bigger challenges. This morning we scoured through the Malayalam newspaper on the dinner table to try and find examples of vowel signs we had studied the afternoon before. It is a long process but with the support of those in our immediate surrounding and the encouragement from those close to us yet far away we will succeed.
We have short bible studies whenever we are at Achen’s house. He uses these bible lessons to highlight situations in an Indian and global context. Areas of injustice and oppression that we are all called on, not only Christians, to stand up against. We were looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 17-34. Focusing on our call to provide food for those who need it as a way enacting how God has called us to live our lives. Today’s bible study ended with a moving quote from a Catholic colleague of Thomas John Achens. He said, “We are so concerned about turning the bread into flesh that we often forget to turn our flesh into bread.”
Be it through a secular organization or company, or through an organization or program linked to a certain faith or denomination, or even through an ecumenical organization bringing together many beliefs and faiths we should all be set on helping out those who need. Many of us have been blessed with having more than we need. As it was so eloquently put (in describing the YAV program) "We are rich enough to be poor for a year". It is not bad to have excess but it is important that we use this wealth in ways to help out other who are in need. You can never go wrong when you end with a Winston Churchill quote so I will do that now: "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." 

6 comments:

  1. John Bell (the writer of the hymn "The Summons"), and a fellow Scot has set Christian lyrics to many Scottish/Celtic melodies. One of these melodies is "Wild Mountain Thyme" and the lyric begins "In a byre near Bethlehem". I was reminded of this as I read your blog, and offer it to you to think and talk about. The second stanza's line "Fed their mouths as well as preaching" was what came to mind, but I think you'll appreciate the incarnational theology and its implications in the rest of the hymn.

    You may want to find and listen to it on You Tube!



    In a byre near Bethlehem ,
    Passed by many a wand’ring stranger,
    The most precious Word of Life
    Was heard gurgling in a manger,
    For the good of us all.

    And He’s here when we call Him,
    Bringing health, love and laughter
    To life now and ever after,
    For the good of us all.



    By the Galilean Lake
    Where the people flocked for teaching,
    The most precious Word of Life
    Fed their mouths as well as preaching,
    For the good of us all.
    And He’s here.....



    Quiet was Gethsemane,
    Camouflaging priest and soldier;
    The most precious Word of Life
    Took the world’s weight on his shoulder,
    For the good of us all.

    And He’s here.....



    On the hill of Calvary -
    Place to end all hope of living -
    The most precious Word of Life
    Breathed his last and died forgiving,
    For the good of us all.
    And He’s here.....



    In a garden, just at dawn,
    Near the grave of human violence,
    The most precious Word of Life
    Cleared his throat and ended silence,
    For the good of us all.
    And He’s here.....



    ©1987 WGRG, Iona Community, Govan, Glasgow G51 3UU, Scotland



    Love you.

    Mom

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  2. Glad to hear you are doing well. I am really enjoying these posts. Stay safe and have a great time!

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  3. Hey Jim, you should already be familiar with eating peppers. You all love Indian food. It should be a piece of cake. It is enjoyable to read your blog.

    Shirley Millicans

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  4. a HOT cuury is good for your soul but maybe not your bowel

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  5. I was glad to hear you had arrived safely and am enjoying your posts and the comments made by those following your blog. I missed seeing (and hearing) you in the choir last week, but you are in my prayers daily and in the thoughts and prayers of others as well.

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