Day 123a: Having faith in the Doubters … (August 30, 2019)
And then once again I am back out on The Way, this morning acutely remembering that even poorly performed Peace Walks (i.e. those that are sprinkled or even ladled with whining or frustration or pseudo-arrogance or even a regular failure to courageously witness to The Way) get “automatic A’s” – as long as the walker doesn’t quit, and as long as the walk itself remains Faith-full. With my spirits newly uplifted I made my way to the far outskirts of Frederick, where I come across a large and quite beautiful Seventh Day Adventist Church. I have had find encounters with the Seventh Day folks in the past, and was anticipating a relatively warm reception here as well, and yet my arrival was openly frowned upon, and even my requested “prayer time” in the main chapel was closely monitored by a semi-scowling member of the church staff – all provided, quite ironically, under stained glass windows portraying the holy Dove of Peace (I mean, can’t these folks read my smock?!?) and the baptismal scallop shell (Isn’t it clear that I have been “baptized” by the Camino’s Way?!?) and Jesus with outstretched palms (Sheesh! Where is The Love of Christ in this building?!?). “Oh well,” I thought, “Nothing new here – same old Paulinist callousness & condemnation & criticism when confronted with my bold & relatively pure embodiment of the teachings of Jesus” (sigh) …
“Doubts of such kind gnawed at the chaplain’s lean, suffering frame. Was there a single true faith at play here, or even a real life after death? And how many angels could dance on the head of a pin, and with what matters did God occupy himself in all those infinite eons before the current Creation? And why was it necessary to put a protective seal on the brow of Cain if there were no other people on hand to protect him from? And did Adam and Eve ever produce daughters, and if not with whom did Cain & Abel make their subsequent progeny? These were just a few of the great and complex questions of ontology that tormented the reverend’s mind. And yet no matter how pressing or confounding they ever seemed, none of them ever seemed remotely as important as the question of courageous kindness to strangers and selfless service to those in need.” ~ inspired by Joseph Heller
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