December 22, 2021
Ken’s Blog: Of Faith and Unsettledness
As 2021 comes to a close and 2022 draws near, I must confess that my “being” is unsettled. What is my being? It’s my heart, mind, body and soul — just like you.
Rather than list all the “unsettledness of my being” (it would be quite long ☹), I would rather mention what has uplifted me, fueled me, and provided some sense of peace. I’ll bet we share some common themes:
My family and friends are still here sharing my journey and are also a part of our journey.
My colleagues and team members whose dedication to purpose and commitment, compassion, and expertise leave me full of AWE. I deeply appreciate every one of them.
My Faith.
As a believer, I have been deeply troubled by the way faith has been used to sow political division. I know my faith is very clear in how I view my behaviors and accountabilities during the pandemic. Yet there are folks who profess the same faith as me but have a completely different perspective. Or even putting faith aside, there are folks who view science and truth from a completely different perspective.
To me, that validates that the division isn’t really about faith or even science – but rather how folks think and what sources they depend on to “nourish them and their truth.” My faith and the nourishment I trust is very different than some other folks. And how that happens is unfathomable to me — my struggle is to let it go. I will continue to believe, and act, and lead consonant with my values – and accept that others have a different reality while also accepting the painfulness of the schism.
My faith and the nourishment I trust is very different than some other folks. And how that happens is unfathomable to me — my struggle is to let it go.
Most of the time, my world is a “left brain” dominated function – science, logic, numbers, decisions, etc. But what has provided me the most solace in this time is my “right brain” function. The poem below has stuck with me since I first heard it years ago:
Tonight eternity alone is near,
the sunset and the darkening blue,
there is no space for fear,
only the wonder of its truth.
Dusk at Sea, Thomas S. Jones, Jr.
As is true of great poetry, there is a lot to unpack in those few words. Oddly enough, reflecting on this is healing for me. There is no space for fear. Instead, truth, wonder and eternity.
I have enclosed a recording of this poem, in a setting by Rene Clausen, which the National Lutheran Choir (I am a member) sang at our Christmas program broadcast December 10, 2021 at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. Here are the last minutes of the piece.
Be still my soul.
Thank you for all that you do and best wishes for blessed holidays.
Ken
