...love, with an accent

Lord, your church on earth is seeking your renewal from above;

teach us all the art of speaking with the accent of your love.

We would heed your great commission: “Go now into every place;

preach, baptize, fulfill my mission, serve with love and share my grace.”

---Hugh Sherlock, 1960

I am always interested in the decision of television directors and producers---mainly of news, documentary, and reality programming---to decide to use subtitles to “translate” the speech of characters or interview subjects with broken English or thick accents. I am continually amazed (and amused) by the great diversity of ways that we speak “American English”---cultural, regional, and even generational differences. Yes, generational---I sometimes think folk of a certain age might need subtitles to understand the everyday slang of teens and twenty-somethings, and I know for a fact that lots of the lingo of 'seasoned folk' go right over the heads of young whippersnappers out there! One of the most humorous choices, to a (mostly) southerner like me, is subtitles applied to a thick southern accent---how could anyone have trouble understanding that?!

I think what fascinates me is accent. People who specialize in training actors can sometimes isolate and identify accents not just by country or region, but by city, or even borough or neighborhood in the case of New York City. They can train actors to speak with the dialect of a certain location, a certain people group, a certain era.

Imagine with me what the sound might be of all of us speaking with love’s accent. What would our voices sound like? What words would fill our vocabularies? What tone, what timbre would govern our speech? How does love sound, translated into everyday language? Would the world recognize love’s accent on our tongues?

Would we need subtitles to translate love?

...let's make something!

The love of Jesus calls us in swiftly changing days,

To be God’s co-creators in new and wondrous ways;

That God with men and women may so transform the earth,

That love and peace and justice may give God’s kingdom birth.

---Herbert O'Driscoll, 1989

“Let’s make something!” These are the words, this is the invitation, that sets things in motion. At my son and soon-to-be-daughter-in-law’s home, you can bet the end result will be sweet, or savory, jewels and gems from the garden or kitchen. At my house, there might be music to be made, with everyone’s voice or instrument playing a part. In some homes, in some places in Alabama, quilts are being pieced. At your house there might be a puzzle to be put together, or a craft project, or an object d’art, a play to be staged, or a tale to be spun. At your place, goody bags for the weekend backpack program might be stuffed, or items for Christmas jail boxes might be gathered and shoeboxes might be wrapped. At our gathering, signs of encouragement, support, protest. 

In this hymn we are reminded that Jesus calls us to ‘make something’ together with God---to be co-creators of a new realm where love and justice and peace are the guiding lights. Wait. We…are co-creators…with THE Creator? How in the world is that supposed to work? What could you or I make that could stand alongside God’s work? What could we craft, of love, or justice, or peace, that would advance the household of the Prince of Peace? That, I think, is part of what makes the Good News good---our creation doesn’t have to stand up to God’s…it stands with God’s, as part of a beautiful whole, every person’s contribution to the creation of this new world consecrated by its dedication to our co-Creator.

Let’s make something! It will be glorious.

...don't make me go

Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and sacrifice;

Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies.

O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to Thy perfect light.

--John Henry Hopkins, Jr., 1857

Christmas is a strange kind of baby shower for Christians. Even as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, with mirth and pure joy, we know that the week of Christ’s Passion is around the corner. We welcome the baby with the angels’ song echoing in our ears; but we know the rest of the story. We anticipate crying “Crucify!” with the crowd disappointed in the vision of a Savior who won’t destroy Roman rule. Just like the chore of putting away the Christmas decorations, we turn the corner between Christmas and Good Friday with reluctance.

This Epiphany hymn celebrates the gifts of the Magi: gold, a gift fit for a king; frankincense, an offering to a god; myrrh, an embalming spice foreshadowing Christ’s death at the hands of unchecked political and religious power.

Guide us to Your perfect Light.