News from Battle Ground

I'm still reviewing old posts and will restore more as time allows. As I read, I am examining my motives for each post. They aren't always lofty, I confess. Fundamentally, however, this site provides what was intended, a safe place for people to talk about the OALC and to offer support to each other. Help me keep it real, and keep it loving.

A friend sent me this letter to the editor in the current issue of The Reflector, Battle Ground's newspaper.

Tolerance in religion is suggested
I was born in New York City and raised in a Finnish neighborhood. I remained in that area for many years.
I recently learned of a Lutheran Apostolic Church, with people of Finnish descent constituting the majority, located in the Battle Ground area. To my distress, I learned these “Christians” insult people who do not belong to their congregation or uphold their cultish taboos. One woman told me her children were told their mother was a whore because she wore make-up. Is this religion? Would Luther condone such behavior?
If the Taliban cult moved to Battle Ground, their actions and speech would no doubt be similar to this “apostolic” church. I hang my head in shame knowing that people like these are of Finnish descent, when Finns in their own country are known to be the most literate and educated and politically liberal people of Europe, if not the world.
Norma Lahti
Vancouver, WA

Removing the Log in My Own Eye

I love my family, each and every one of them -- and I've learned that something said on this site has caused a wound. When I find out where it is, I'll remove it and restore the rest.

To the person who has guessed my identity and is misrepresenting this blog to others, may your heart be moved to honesty.

Let's Keep it Real

Once you begin looking at the origins of the gospels, prepare to have your mind blown. Unless you are ready to devote your life to learning Greek and Hebrew, you will have to rely on others' translations. But if you must (and I must) depend on others, it helps to have some humility about their accuracy, and to be open to new insights.

For example, how many times do we read "belief" when the original writer intended, in Greek, "trust"?

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Thoughts on Fathers

Things that happened yesterday:

The Pope died.My thoughts went many places. I thought about my Catholic friends and relatives, who rejoice and mourn for their spiritual leader in a way that I don't understand but can share in empathy and respect. I thought about Annie Dillard, who became a Catholic because she loved the rich assortment of humanity in the Church, quite unlike her childhood church. I wondered if the Pope ever wanted to have a regular life, with a job and wife and kids. I also rejoiced in my faith, which does not ask me to judge others and spreads its arms wide to the mystery.

My father turned 80 years old. This is my prayer, that my love will accompany him always.

We took the kids to Edmonds to meet Rick Steves, the travel guru. He looks taller in person. His speech was about the benefits of travel, and he contrasted travel with vacations that focus on hedonism. Travel is getting to know different cultures. When he was 14, his parents took him to Norway, where he saw foreign parents adoring their children, and realized that all over the world, parents loved their children just as much as his parents loved him. This anecdote illustrated his larger point, which was our need, as wealthy citizens of the first world, to care about God's children everywhere, especially those "too tired to even swat the flies away." Our son is a great fan of Rick Steve's. Our daughter calls him Rick Syrup.

I finished reading "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson. It's a book about fathers and sons, and it's lovely and luminous and full of grace. There is a balm in Gilead. This is one of those books that could change your life.

But Enough About Me . . .

I wonder how many of you I'm related to. It turns out Theoforos and I are connected through marriage (at last, a relative who will talk to me!). No doubt I'm related to many of you as well. I find myself envying those of you who remain close to your OALC relatives. How do you do it?