Minister's Notes

Rev. Tim's Bits . . . September 2010

      In some politically liberal circles, the closure of the Bush years has left a gap. Before that departure, it was so easy to blame everything on the Bush administration. During those years, political liberals comforted themselves that everything would be better when he left office. I know that I succumbed to it. Surely, I thought, we will have a rational, economically beneficial, shared boarder management with Canada when . . . he leaves office. . . . . But it didn’t happen.
      Beyond political concerns, we all know how blaming works. It is comforting to know who did it. It is reassuring when arrests are made after terrible murders. Well, he won’t be doing that any more.
Unfortunately, the reassurance of having someone to blame can lead to irrational behavior, especially when fear and insecurity grow deep and are unresolved. Hatred, bigotry, prejudice, witch-hunts, and the search for a scapegoat can emerge even among people who appear unaffected in a direct way.
      Concerns around building a mosque two blocks from “ground zero” may be rationally countered with affirmations of equality and religious freedom. And clearly I believe we should hold to what those principles wisely advise us to do.
     However, we will fail to understand what is going on unless we consider the emotional content of the arguments. Fear is among us, and prejudice against obvious minorities is the result. In the paranoid chemistry of the brain it goes like this: if we can just get those Moslems under control, such a terrible attack will never happen again.
     But what happens when we keep thinking about all these fear-filled and hate-filled people? Fear typically sneaks into our own hearts. What do we do?
     I found it intriguing and wonderfully reassuring that New Yorkers, perhaps among the most diverse people in the world and so frighteningly near the disaster, are the most affirmative of this new mosque in their city. ‘The mosque is “in many ways . . . a fitting tribute,” said Colleen Kelly of the Bronx, who lost her brother Bill Kelly Jr. in the attacks. “This is the voice of Islam that I believe needs a wider audience,” said Kelly, who is Catholic. “This is what moderate Islam is all about.”’ (Buffalo News, August 15, page A7)
     How did Colleen Kelly create this affirmative view. I believe that she continues to love in the face of loss, fear, and hate. For love is the agent that casts out fear. Her solace comes from connecting together with other caring people and feeling their support. She is not alone. She is not afraid.
And then a bible verse came to mind: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (I John 4:18) - Rev. Tim Ashton

Things You May Not Know About the Network of Religious Communities -
Mission statement: The Network facilitates interreligious, ecumenical and interracial cooperation among congregations and religious organizations in WNY. Because our humanity is deeper than our divisions, we promote dialogue, facilitate the sharing of spiritual resources and work together for justice, peace and the common good.

Did you know . . . ?
1. The NRC operates a food pantry staffed by volunteers from area congregations. The pantry is open Monday - Friday each week from 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM and provides 3 days of nutritious food to over 14,000 persons a year.

2. The NRC is responsible for promoting and resourcing the Food Stamp program in Erie County. We provide current food stamp information to all agencies and organizations in Erie County, promote food stamps through various broadcast and publishing media and maintain a hot line to assist persons who desire to apply for Food Stamps.

3 The NRC undertook the challenge of working with UB to organize and hold an Interfaith Service with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

4 The NRC shares its facilities at 1272 Delaware Avenue with several organizations. They include the League of Women Voters, Indigenous Women's Initiatives, Immigrant Legal Services, Interfaith Peace Network, Outside the Box, etc.
 

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