Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting
Pastor Bob Henry
June 2, 2019
Philippians 2:1-5
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…
As those of you who were with us last Sunday already know, we had a beautiful gathered experience around the Big Oval in Fellowship Hall. I have reflected back on our gathering several times throughout this week. Many of you have shared with me your positive experiences and the many take-aways. I thank Dan Rains once again for being willing to give testimony to our meeting and for so many of you sharing out of the silence. I am grateful for the experience and for the continued joy that has come out of our time together.
It seemed only appropriate that the scripture for this week be almost a recap of what we experienced last week. If anything, we were encouraged, united, and comforted by a common sharing in the Spirit – there was tenderness and compassion, no selfish ambition or vain conceit, because what happened last week was grounded in our relationships with one another. I know that my joy was made complete last week because of the unity and genuine compassion and joy that First Friends exudes for our community. Honestly, being the shepherd of this community, is a blessing and true joy and I feel honored to minister alongside each of you.
For me to be able to say those words means a lot more to me than most people would know. At my last meeting in Oregon, there were many times when I did not feel being a pastor was a blessing and joy. I struggled with my own identity and especially seeing that of God in all people. And let’s be honest, there are STILL moments when I struggle, I have personal and internal work to do, and yes, even sometimes when I have to admit that my perspective simply has to change.
One of the voices that spoke deeply to my condition as I was going through those difficult days in Oregon was author Rachel Held Evans. Sadly, Rachel was laid to rest yesterday. She died at the age of 37 of complications from brain seizures occurring after a bought with the flu.
It was the words of her first book, Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask Questions (which ironically she retitled a few years ago, Faith Unraveled (an even better title for my condition) that inspired me – I know it did so because I painted a painting which illustrated one of the chapters, and when Rachel came to speak at George Fox, I presented it to her.
The chapter I was inspired by was the chapter called, “John the Revelator.” Where Rachel had been led to read the Book of Revelation very late one night. Here is what she wrote in her bathroom the night of her experience that had a profound impact on me,
“As I sat staring at the mustard-yellow tiles around our shower, I wondered what exactly John saw and heard to convince him that the kingdom of God includes people from every nation, tribe, people, and language, people from the north and the south and the east and the west. I imagined that he must have seen women wearing glorious red, green, and gold saris beneath their white robes. He must have seen voluminous African headdresses of every shape and color. He must have seen the turquoise jewelry of the Navajo, the rich wool of the Peruvians, the prayer shawls of the Jews. He must have seen faces of every shade and eyes of every shape. He must have seen orange freckles and coal-colored hair and moonlike complexions and the lovely flash of brilliant white teeth against black skin. He must have heard instruments of all kinds—bagpipes and lutes and dulcimers and banjos and gongs. He must have heard languages of every sound and cadence, melodies of every strain, and rhythms of every tempo. He must have heard shouts of praise to Elohim, Allah, and Papa God, shouts in Farsi and Hindi, Tagalog and Cantonese, Gaelic and Swahili, and in tongues long forgotten by history. And he must have seen the tears of every sadness—hunger and loneliness, sickness and loss, injustice and fear, tsunami and drought, rape and war—acknowledged and cherished and wiped away. In one loud and colorful moment, he must have witnessed all that makes us different and all that makes us the same…
With this in mind, (she says) I returned to John’s vision often, sometimes daily. Even on days when I wasn’t sure that God exists, when I wasn’t sure I loved him or even liked him much, I knew that I cherished this image of him. I don’t know anyone, believer or skeptic, who doesn’t long for a day when God wipes every tear from every eye, when “there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain” (Rev. 21:4 NASB). Even the faintest inkling that this might be true can keep you going for one more day.”
And that vision kept me going. It taught me that seeing with eyes of compassion those around me could make my joy fuller or even more complete – or maybe I should say, “make OUR joy fuller and more complete.”
This seeing though, was my work. I needed to open my eyes to see those around me, to see those that were my enemies, those I was neglecting, those that I did not have God’s eyes to see.
Just before I came to First Friends, I took a personal retreat at a local monastery. While on the retreat I read Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s, “The Book of Joy.” Much like Rachel Held Evans’ writing, it too had a profound impact on me. But it was a meditation in the back of the book that helped me process how I see those around me. How wishing those around me blessings and joy brings blessings and joy and hope to me. This is what makes our joy complete – when we are like-minded with Christ.
This morning, as a guided time of waiting worship in this beautiful setting, I would like to lead us through that meditation. It is simply titled…
Compassion Meditation
Let us begin with a time of settling…
Please settle into a comfortable position and allow yourself to relax.
Take a deep breath and release. For a few moments, just focus on your breath and clear your mind of worries. Notice when you are breathing in … and breathing out. Let yourself experience and be aware of the sensations of breathing.
Loving-kindness & Compassion for a Loved One
Picture someone who is close to you, someone toward whom you feel a great amount of love. Notice how this love feels in your heart.
Notice the sensations around your heart. Perhaps you feel a sensation of warmth, openness, and tenderness.
Continue breathing, and focus on these feelings as you visualize your loved one. As you breathe out, imagine that you are extending a golden light that holds your warm feelings from the center of your heart. Imagine that the golden light reaches out to your loved one, bringing him or her peace and happiness. At the same time, silently recite these phrases.
May you have happiness.
May you be free from suffering.
May you experience joy and ease.
As you silently repeat these phrases, remember to extend the golden light to your loved one from your heart. Feel with all your heart that you wish your loved one happiness and freedom from suffering.
Compassion for a Loved One
Now think of a time when this person was suffering. Maybe they experienced an illness, an injury, or a difficult time in a relationship.
Notice how you feel when you think of his or her suffering. How does your heart feel? Do the sensations change? Do you continue to feel warmth, openness and tenderness? Are there other sensations, perhaps an aching sensation?
Continue to visualize your loved one as you breathe. Imagine that you are extending the golden light from your heart to your loved one, and that the golden light is easing his or her suffering. Extend this light out to them during your exhalation, with the strong heartfelt wish that they be free from his or her suffering. Recite silently to him or her:
May you be free from this suffering.
May you have joy and happiness.
Notice how this feels in your heart. What happened to your heart? Did the sensations change? Did you continue to feel warmth, openness and tenderness? Were there other sensations, an aching sensation perhaps? Did you have a wish to take away the other’s suffering?
Compassion for Self
Contemplate a time when you have suffered yourself. Perhaps you experienced a conflict with someone you care about, or did not succeed in something you wanted, or were physically ill.
Notice how you feel when you think of your suffering. How does your heart feel? Do you continue to feel warmth, openness, and tenderness? Are there other sensations, perhaps an aching sensation?
Just as we wish for our loved one’s suffering to end, we wish that our own suffering would end. We may also envision our own pain and suffering leaving us so that we may experience happiness and joy.
Continue to visualize yourself as you breathe. Imagine that the golden light emanating from your heart is easing your suffering. With each exhalation, feel the light emanating within you, with the strong heartfelt wish that you be free from your suffering. Silently recite to yourself:
May I be free from this suffering.
May I have joy and happiness.
Again, notice how this feels in your heart. What kind of sensations did you feel? Did they change from when you were envisioning your own suffering? How is this feeling different from when you wished your loved one’s suffering to be relieved? Did you feel warmth, openness and tenderness? Were there other sensations such as pressure? Did you have a wish to take away your own suffering?
Compassion for a Neutral Person
Now visualize someone you neither like nor dislike—someone you may see in your everyday life, such as a classmate with whom you are not familiar, a bus driver, or a stranger you pass on the street.
Although you are not familiar with this person, think of how this person may suffer in his or her own life. This person may also have conflicts with loved ones, or struggled with an addiction, or may have suffered illness. Imagine a situation in which this person may have suffered.
Notice your heart center. Does it feel different? Do you feel more warmth, openness and tenderness? Are there other sensations, perhaps an aching sensation? How does your heart feel different from when you were envisioning your own or a loved one’s suffering?
Continue to visualize this person as you breathe. Imagine that you are extending the golden light from your heart to them, and that the golden light is easing his or her suffering. Extend this light out to them during your exhalation, with the strong heartfelt wish that he or she be free from suffering. See if this wish can be as strong as the wish for your own or a loved one’s suffering to be relieved. Silently recite to him or her:
May you be free from this suffering.
May you have joy and happiness.
Again, notice how this feels in your heart. Did the sensations change from when you were envisioning this person’s suffering? Did you continue to feel warmth, openness and tenderness? Were there other sensations? Did you have a wish to take away this person’s suffering? How were these feelings different from when you were wishing to take away your own or a loved one’s suffering?
Compassion for an Enemy
Now visualize someone with whom you have difficulty in your life. This may be a parent or child with whom you disagree, an ex-girlfriend or boyfriend, a roommate with whom you had an argument, or a co-worker with whom you do not get along.
Although you may have negative feelings towards this person, think of how this person has suffered in his or her own life. This person has also had conflicts with loved ones, or has dealt with failures, or may have suffered illness. Think of a situation in which this person may have suffered.
Notice your heart center. Does it feel different? Do you feel more warmth, openness and tenderness? Are there other sensations, perhaps an aching sensation? How does your heart feel different from when you were envisioning your own or a loved one’s suffering?
Continue to visualize this person as you breathe. Imagine that you are extending the golden light from your heart to him or her, and that the golden light is easing his or her suffering. Extend this light out to him or her during your exhalation, with the strong heartfelt wish that he or she be free from suffering. See if this wish can be as strong as the wish for your own or a loved one’s suffering to be relieved. Silently recite to him or her:
May you be free from this suffering.
May you have joy and happiness
If you have difficulty in wishing for this person’s suffering to be relieved, you may think of a positive interaction you have had with this person that can help you in wishing them joy and happiness. Perhaps there were times when you got along, laughed together, or worked well together on an assignment. Continue to silently recite:
May you be free from this suffering.
May you have joy and happiness.
Again, notice how this feels in your heart. Did the sensations change? Did you feel warmth, openness and tenderness? How were these feelings different from when you were wishing for your own or a loved one’s suffering to end? Were there other sensations, perhaps a tightness in the chest? Did you have a wish to take away this person’s suffering?
Compassion for All Beings
Now that we are almost at the end of this meditation, let’s end with wish for all other beings’ suffering to be relieved. Just as I wish to have peace, happiness, and to be free from suffering, so do all beings.
Now bask in the joy of this open-hearted wish to ease the suffering of all people and how this attempt brings joy, happiness, and compassion in your heart at this very moment.