The power of love: a life of passion
April 19, 2015 | Anita Retzlaf, Rachel Regier, Carl Wiens
Prayer - On this glorious day of worship the dormancy of winter is transformed by the warmth of the sun and our world is turning into greenery and colour. Reveling in the promise that is to come, O God, we assemble around your Word to receive from you today. May we not turn away from the power of love that is evidenced in the warming earth but embrace the potency and power that is about to be revealed yet again by your hand. AMEN
Oh, it is spring and two young lovers explore the delights of the fields and vineyards. In language capturing images of heightened physical desire - grape blossoms, pomegranates in bloom and fragrant mandrakes – the senses are aroused for two people in love. Some of us may feel a little uncomfortable with the pointed sexual imagery of the Song of Solomon or the Song of Songs as it is also known. That discomfort is closely tied to our cultural upbringing. Sex and sexuality were not openly addressed in many households even though today we live in a society that sexualizes just about anything on the market including hamburgers and cleaning supplies.
The language in the Song of Solomon is “hot” and sensual which may be even more unnerving because its source is the Bible. What is all this talk of “giving you my love?” Multiple verses of scripture display a robust and graphic portrait of the voluptuous beauty of a woman and intense physical desire that is hard to ignore. What has this to do with worshipping God?
It is the gift of passion; God-given and God-approved passion, because of course, the root of passion is simply love. Back to that same old theme once again! Love is at the heart of all of storied scripture and love is our reason for being the children of a God who created the world in this way. Passion is the conduit through which we express the love that we have been given to share. Passion is expressed in so many ways. In the Song of Solomon passion is expressed as physical desire. The beauty of the human body is a crowning glory of God’s creation. However, passion, as God-approved love for creation is also expressed through music, and poetry and art and gardening and golfing and child-raising and worship and service and justice-seeking. God has given us passion so that we can live life to the fullest.
Let us return briefly to the Song of Solomon a short book that speaks to our most intimate and personal connections. This is not the grand narrative of a holy war or kingly succession but rather the treasured truths about our longing, our desires in life, the physical pleasure of intimacy engaging all of the senses and the power that passion plays in all of our lives.
We want to be inspired, lifted up, transformed by something. Is that not why we come to worship – to be moved beyond our everyday, the mundane, the ordinary? Do we not come to hear the beautiful words and cadence of scripture, to pray the prayers that bring us closer to God – and each other and to sing? Music – now that is a somewhat safer expression of our passion!
I am compelled to share with you this morning the experience of listening to “Ein Deutsches Requiem” on Friday evening. Oh that was passionate! Duff Warkentin conducted the Station Singers in this most romantic and emotional work. Besides the wonderful performance of the choir, soloists and instrumentalists was the passion of Duff himself. He set Brahms’ masterpiece on fire! How? He cares so much about the music, its place in his life and its transformative power. So, Duff shared his story and how over the years his life intersected with the Requiem. This story was a passionate one. As most of you know, experiences like this are difficult to describe; words hardly capture the emotional depth of our passion. It is what Lois Wiens experienced as the Saskatune Singers sang the “Mountain Railway” song at Eric’s funeral a couple of weeks ago and it is the way my family felt when the Men’s Quartet sang at my father’s funeral, “The King of Love my Shepherd Is.” How to describe those emotions….
Yet, that is passion: gazing upon the face of your baby for the first time engendering the fiercest protective instincts possible and sustained throughout a lifetime. Something within stirs so deeply as to defy description! I believe that this is the motivation of the inclusion of the Song of Solomon in our scriptures: passion described, legitimated and treasured. But let us remember that this love poem is but one passionate outlet: one interpretation. I have also described the power of music in our lives but there is much more: our work for peace and for justice, passion for our environment and the good creation, our innovative and entrepreneurial drive, our desire for political and community change, our vocation – the work that we do every day. These are all passions that guide our lives.
Rachel Regier and Carl Wiens are prepared to share with us this morning a glimpse into the passion that has informed and guided their lives. What are those things that we do not want to live without, that we cannot live without? How have we found those things in life that meet our passion, lift us up and give us hope? When has passion eluded us and kept us searching?
Rachel
I am a millennial. I am of a generation of people in North America born into relative luxury. I became familiar with the internet, and connected with people around the globe as a child. The message I heard many times as a youth and young adult was not to find a steady job to make ends meet. Rather, the message delivered to me was that my purpose in life is to find my passion and then run toward it. A growing number of people in my demographic are cutting back on work, and at times quitting a career to pursue a “passion”. As I hear stories from people around me, boldly striding in their own directions I at times feel myself tentatively stepping forward and back in circles, unable to clearly define my own passions or path. It’s not that I can’t think of one, but rather, that I feel passionate about too many things. At risk of coming across as childish, I am willing to say that I am easily excited and overcome with amazement about a great many things; nature, trees, bicycles, human bodies, growing flowers, good food, musical harmonies, outer space, physics, philosophy, life, and death, and all things in between. Picking one thing only ever led to more.
Not feeling like an expert on the topic of passion I thought it best to begin with some research. However I was surprised, and further confused, to find that the word passion is rooted in the Latin word for suffering. How can this be? I began to feel I was suffering myself, trying to collect all these scattered thoughts. (How had Anita lured me into this trap). But taking time to think more about truly passionate people I know, I found some synthesis. Passion implies that a person feels so strongly for something that they are willing to endure some hardship and suffering for it. A passionate athlete trains even in cold weather, a passionate musician sacrifices leisure time to practice scales, the passion of Christ was his suffering for the message that he believed in. Perhaps this is why Jesus said blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. They are blessed in knowing that they have something worth suffering for.
Still, alas, I struggle to identify my own true passion. I’ve never had “that one thing”. So in this quest, where else would a millennial go to find their purpose, but google.
A quick google search led me to a page that claimed I could “Find my passion with these 8 thought provoking questions” and though I read each one carefully I didn’t finish number 8 with any new personal epiphany. However, one question really caught my eye. I will share it with you not because I fully understand it, wholeheartedly agree with it, or know where it might lead, but because it intrigued me. The question read:
“What is something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on?”
The article pointed out how difficult it is for humans to be unique. Originality is hard; so if something causes you to feel or act differently, chances are you feel passionately about it. People who are different often suffer a bit because of it, but the passion gives the suffering value.
One thing that seems to be the root of most of my unique actions is my passion for creation. I am willing to sacrifice some comfort and ease in my life to protect it. I am convinced that this is my purpose: To accept the gifts of life, nature, and beauty and demonstrate appreciation through my daily choices. When Jared and I pull up on our bikes on a sleety, icy day it’s not because we thought it was going to be a fun time. For us, passionately and honestly thanking God for the gifts we’ve been given, means choosing a less comfortable option from time to time.
In writing this I realize that I have grown to feel passionate about this church community. Yes, even willing to suffer a bit for it. (the proof is that I am standing in front of you right now) One reason I have grown to love this community has been that I have seen passion in many of you, and it’s contageous. You give up your hearts, gifts, and your Tuesday evenings, and at times suffer for following Jesus’ example of love and acceptance.
I am still young, and there are few things I know for sure, but one thing that I am convinced of is that our purpose is not to avoid suffering, but rather to find causes that are worth some sacrifice. Choosing a path of passion and truth may mean walking away from comfort and certainty. Fortunately, our faith is not in ourselves and our own abilities, but in our God and how he works through our community. I get excited when I dream about where the path of this church may lead as we continue to take passionate and courageous steps of faith. Maybe we will be known as that church that is a bit different, and perhaps that could be a good thing.
Carl – Passions: What drives us
Anita’s email to me is dated April 6. It reads: In 2 weeks on April 19 I am preaching on the book of The Song of Solomon. I want to talk about the passions that drive us to do what we do in our everyday lives. I was wondering if you would consider speaking to your passions….. Wow ! Talk about timing! About the only thing I felt passionately about right then was to say NO! But that did not feel quite right either.
Passions??? And the scripture reference is Song of Solomon. It did catch my attention.
Likely the first time I ever read Song of Solomon I was in High School. I do remember it being quite impacting then.
I could at least read it and then I would be able to give Anita a more informed No. Several passages caught my attention although I only found out after writing my reflection that 2 were part of this morning’s scripture.
- Song of Solomon 3: 6-10 talks about the extravagance of Solomon’s carriage or in the NASB “ his travelling couch” which fills the air with fragrance, is made of the finest woods and tapestries and guarded by the best of the best soldiers . It all seems very over the top. Someone had really gone all out!
- And this from Song of Solomon 7: 11,12 Let’s tramp through the countryside. Lets sleep at some wayside inn, then rise early and listen to bird song. Let’s look for wildflowers in bloom, blackberry bushes blossoming white, Fruit trees festooned with cascading flowers. Ok Ok count me in ! I love those kinds of adventures!
- And in case you missed it , “ Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
Suffice it to say --- 5 minutes would not be enough time to deal with all the connections my mind was making but I could no longer say no.
In my attempt to get at the core of the passions that drive me I need to start with Psalm 139:vs 3-6 (reading from the Message Bible)
I am never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there too- your reassuring Presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful!
And also vs 13-18
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mothers womb. I thank you, High God –you’re breath taking. Body and Soul I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration!
I believe I am at my best when I am most closely the person God has created me to be.
I would also say that I know I am at my best when my soul sings. I am fully engaged in the moment; a Divine moment; ( a Shekinah moment??) Allow me to differentiate. From here on in when I say Shekeenah , I am referring to–a place; and when I say Shekinah –I mean God’s Presence. For many of us who know Shekeenah it is at times indistinguishable.
My time at Shekinah Retreat Centre was everything I had hoped for in a vocation. It engaged me fully in all the interests and values I held dear. It seemed a natural culmination of all the education, training and experiences up to the start of my employment at SRC. Is Shekeenah the passion that drives me? And having retired from SRC has passion retired as well?
This question has occupied my mind in one form or other since I left Sheekinah. Its been a real struggle to come to grips with who I am away from Sheekinah. My mind has always had a quick dismissive response. Of course your more than Sheekinah. But my soul has not sung out a comforting reply until I began preparing for this talk. My passions are not restricted to place ; but rather are driven by a seeking for God’s presence. Seeking Shekinah has always been a passion throughout my whole life, in some cases long before I ever heard about a place called Shekeenah.
And so, with gratitude for these moments, I would like to share just a few Shekinah moments.
Moments that still stand out in my mind as moments of Divine presence and leading.
Creation and adventure have always been important in my life. Curiosity lured a 5 year old me on an adventure along the edge of an ominous forest inhabited by fierce wolves of the Little Red Riding Hood variety. As the trees got taller and taller I began feeling so much smaller, and so vulnerable, overwhelmingly terrified. Prayer came easily, naturally, fervently but what has stayed with me particularly is the profound Peace and tranquility that suddenly wrapped itself around me.
I grew up on a dairy farm and one of my tasks was to wash out the milk house. This did not always engage the mind of a young teen and on one occasion I got sidetracked by a futuristic fantasy that resulted in a pencil drawing appearing on the milk house cabinet door. The fantasy was of a log cabin, some spruce trees , a stream and a hill rising beyond the view of the picture. I remember thinking that I would really like to live at such a place sometime.
The front cover of My Gr 12 Career Guidance file folder had an inset folding door that opened to a mountain scene. The caption across the mountains read “Naturalist” That intention led to university.
University provided me with a European work/travel opportunity that introduced a new component into my vocational pursuit. I discovered that I absolutely loved exploring the rural landscape in Germany and especially enjoyed talking to whoever I found working the fields. I noted that a vocation needed other people in it –I wasn’t going be alone in the wilderness.
A great way of being in the wilderness but not alone is to be at a camp. I only ever attended camp once as a child but remember the profound connection I experienced with God through nature.
A favorite Rosthern Junior College memory comes from when I was teaching Christian Camping as part of the Christian Ethics curriculum. Successful course completion required Gr 12 students to do a 24 hour solo experience in the wilderness. Judging from the many comments made even years later by Solo participants I recognized the value of facilitating an experience that gave individuals the opportunity of connecting with Creation.
And so I believe that my passion for Shekinah ultimately led me to discover Shekeenah. And here likely many of you could tell your own stories of experiencing God’s presence in a wonderful Valley of Creation and I am sure many of you would recognize stories I could tell but time does not permit.
But my passions are not limited to place. They are also intertwined with the one I am passionate with and about. Psalm 37: 4,5 is Lydia’s and my life verse. We discovered it quite independently of each other and shared it as a favorite verse early on in our relationship. We reviewed that verse two years ago, on our 40th anniversary in the midst of our family, our 3 daughters, their husbands and our 5 grandsons, at a breathtakingly beautiful place in CostaRica. (Since then on Mar 2 a granddaughter has been added.)
Ps 37: 4-5 says (NASB)
Delight yourself in the Lord: and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Thus far, Living passionately, seeking Shekinah have provided me with many extravagant, over the top, experiences of God’s presence. I have been able to enjoy the sharing of Creation with many people, and ultimately overtime have been able to laugh at the terrors of hell, those things that militate against experiencing God’s Presence.
I will conclude with this thought:
Even though you are fully present
I do not always detect your nearness.
I look for you, anticipate you,
Listen for a hint of your voice
Like a tulip bulb in placid soil
waiting for the call to rise up.
You will reveal yourself in due season.
In the meantime, I walk in faith,
Trusting you are in the heart of life,
Secreted in darkness but ever present.
Anita
Of all the ways that passion is expressed in our lives the one that is most pertinent in our worship together today is, of course, our passion for God. I believe that the poetry of the Song of Solomon is meant to direct us to our relationship to God even though the poetry itself is a direct description of human love and longing. Were that we could all experience human love with this intensity! Maybe then we would know how to love God rightly. The language of this poem may help us understand what it is that we seek from God and hope to receive in turn; intimacy, transformation, the deepest, deepest expression of love imaginable! Is that not what we desire? To be loved, accepted, desired and treasured?
There are times when we cover over these desires, lock them away, keep them in the dark. Sometimes we get cynical, demanding and critical of life when our basic longings are not met, when our relationships provide no response, no outlet for love – no hope. The underbelly, the dark side of passion misused or elusive may be manipulative, self-centered and cloying. Passion is risky, costly and hard to control because in the expression of passion we make ourselves vulnerable. Whether it is in sexual intimacy or artistic expression, exposing one’s plans or sharing one’s dreams – if what is offered is rejected, exploited or ridiculed, the result is devastating.
The love poetry of the Song of Solomon is a positive and hopeful proposal. Love, is a commitment, a seal, a way of living that works against the deathly things in our lives. It is so because God chooses to love a world in which human beings are created to be known, intimately, by God and by each other. Therefore we have, in our worship and community life together, a pattern to follow; a passion to follow. We respond to God in praise and productivity, in gratitude and healthy living. Love burns like a blazing fire. Thanks be to God. AMEN
