activate your "magic eye"...
Back when I was in middle school, Magic Eye books were all the rage. You might remember that these books are filled with page upon page of what appears at first glance to be an intricate computer generated colorful pattern. But when you take a closer look at the pattern, a three-dimensional image or even a whole scene emerges through the fuzz of these blotches of color. Every person seems to have his or her own system of accessing that 3-D image. Some people plaster the book to their nose, others cross their eyes, and still others stands on their heads in an effort to see this image pop out among the blotches of color! The trick to activating your Magic Eye is being able to see and seize the world that lies beyond the chaos of the page.
Life is sometimes like contemplating a page of a Magic Eye book. At first we may only see static or chaos and then after a good long stare the static blurs and if we are focused we’re able to feel ourselves cross over a threshold into a new world. This new world may come quickly into focus – and then maybe quickly out of focus for a moment – but with patience this new realm is ours to marvel at and to explore.
Today’s reading from the Hebrew Bible presents us with a bunch of nervy, subversive women who were able to cross into a new world. In this lesson we learn that Pharaoh, weary of the prosperity of the Israelites in Egypt, has ordered the midwives to kill all male babies bore to Hebrew women. From the moment we are introduced to these midwives, we know that something exciting is about to happen. Women are not often named in the Bible and so for us to fall upon two named women (whom the text suggests may not even be Hebrew women) we are clued-in that Shiphrah and Puah must be a critical part of Israel’s story. Well, it turns out that they are extraordinary women; spurred on by their awe or fear of God, they single handedly subvert the orders of the king to ensure the survival of Israel. And when pharaoh reprimands the midwives, they feign incompetence (wink, wink!), insisting that Hebrew women are a rare breed – they are so vigorous that before the midwife can come, they give birth. This story is followed up of course by tales of more brave women who aid in rescuing and saving Moses.
These stories are especially powerful because they introduce us to people who boldly and unabashedly defend life, even at considerable personal risk. Through their inner compasses, some might say their “magic eye”, they see another way out of the chaos and are able to transport their communities into a new world – a new realm – the Kingdom of God.
You may know that one of the things I did during my time away this summer, was to visit the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. And coming off of that experience I find myself with a renewed sense of awe and appreciation for people and groups who are able focus on a way forward amidst chaos and injustice to bring about new reality. I traveled to Haiti to assist in a non-violence training for young adults, sponsored by the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. My week long jaunt to Haiti was extraordinary – I got to meet many young adults and hear about their lives, I was able to preach in lively Episcopal Church as a part of a four day diocesan wide “spiritual renewal,” I celebrated Eucharist with several congregations including a group of elderly folk at an Episcopal nursing home (Foyer Notre Dame) and I visited a new pediatric hospital that is serving the poorest of the poor in Port au Prince. Those of you who may have visited Haiti know that it is a country in chaos and it is a country that is suffering – and yet in the midst of this chaos the Episcopal Church is doing amazing things – operating and building schools, universities, retirement communities, a seminary, medical clinics AND organizing children’s choirs, orchestras and church programs.
The Episcopal Church of course isn’t the only bright light in Haiti, there are many other organizations that are bringing infrastructure and hope to place that has been torn down by decades of devastating foreign policies and internal corruption. The now famous American physician Paul Farmer, who has established a comprehensive healthcare system on Haiti’s central plateau, is another example an individual who along with others has been able to carve out a space for healing, hope and justice among the chaos. Some of you may have heard Dr. Farmer speak about Partners in Health this winter during his visit to Santa Barbara – I know I brought a few students to his lecture. I mention Paul in particular, because it turned out that he was on my flight from Haiti back to the States – which I found incredibly serendipitous!
People in the Diocese of Haiti, Paul Farmer – these are examples of folks who have seized the same decisiveness and determination to preserve life as the women of today’s reading. These individuals are making their way out of stasis and chaos to realize a new vision – and making it happen!
During our nonviolence training, each young adult was asked to complete the following statement: “If I weren’t afraid, I would __________” It’s a brilliant exercise because follows is extremely telling. Think for a second, how would you answer that question? We know how the women in today’s lesson answered that question. The young adults in Haiti talked about putting an end to the kidnappings, the corruption, the hunger, the unemployment, the general violence, the violence against women and children, the lack of opportunity for education and advancement and absusive foreign policies. A funny thing happens when we answer the question -- it takes the edge off that thing we are afraid of doing, doesn’t it? I have no doubt that the mere exercise of vocalizing a response to this question empowered these young adults to go out and create change in a way they throught may not previously have been possible – we’re talking small change, of course, baby steps, but a change nonetheless.
Whenever I talk to people about the Magic Eye books as a metaphor for their spiritual lives, I always have to confess that I am one of those people who has tried in vain to enter the three dimensional world of the Magic Eye, but with little success. My sister, who has tried and tried to explain exactly what she does with her eyes to see beyond the page, assures me that there are other like me who can’t quite get the knack. I still haven’t met these people, but I assume that they exist. Regardless, I’ve heard in such detail what she and others see that it doesn’t matter that I am not able to actually see this world for myself, because through my imagination I am able to be in that world.
Regardless of our ability – or lack thereof – when it comes to the Magic Eye, it’s important to know that the realm beyond the page – the Kingdom – is there and it is ours if we can see it and seize it. For some, this process might be swift – the focus will be immediate and sharp. For others, focus might emerge more slowly and may involve creative means.
Thomas Merton, the Catholic monk and contemplative writer, wrote that his moment of seeing came out of the blue, on a street corner in Louisville. “I was suddenly overwhelmed [he recounted] with the realization that I loved all people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness, of spurious self-isolation in a special world, the world of renunciation and supposed holiness…It is a glorious destiny to be a member of the human race, though it is a race dedicated to many absurdities and one which makes mistakes: yet, with all that, God Himself gloried in becoming a member of the human race! To think that such a commonplace realization should suddenly seem like news that one holds the winning ticket in a cosmic sweepstake.”
We are blessed to be part of a rich tradition of people who can be challenging conversation partners in our journey to uncover the Kingdom of God. Brining about the Kingdom is no easy task. But like the midwives, once we are able to see what needs to be done, the blessing of God carries us through.
Amen.
The Rev. Nicole Janelle
St. Michael's, Isla Vista
Year A, Proper 16
24 August 2008
