Last February the Board of
Administration of the Fort Lauderdale condominium association in which I often
live resigned; they were all weary of directing the policies, finances and
upkeep necessary to manage the relatively small, 42-apartment corporation. In
many ways I regret that, as an owner, even in this emergency, I agreed to serve
as one of the seven directors. It's not just that I'm unsure how to choose one
company over another to repair the roof, the lawn sprinkling system, the
walkways, how to prepare the building for the coming hurricane season, or how
to work wisely with a law firm as we update our documents. After all, one can
learn to fulfill these responsibilities on the job.
What has surprised me is that
the common purpose of maintaining that building for our common use does not
rule out mean-spirited, undermining efforts by a few residents. Yet, I should
not be surprised. This is not significantly different from my years of college
teaching, wherein our common educational mission did not deter fragmenting
efforts by a few colleagues. In so many areas of personal and vocational living
one must deal with malcontents, saboteurs, and other divisive individuals. Why
is it that people brought together by a common purpose often fail to work well
together? Why is it that some individuals seem bent on discord rather than
unity, combat rather than negotiated resolutions? Frequently, it is because the
common purpose is insufficient to inspire harmony, and even jaded personalities
cannot be excluded.
Having recently retired from
teaching, I am convinced that a particular slogan bandied about is both
simplistic and wrong, namely, "Students don't fail; only teachers fail."
Rubbish! Our schools are not funded to meet the needs of all students who do
not have the skills or emotional stability required for success. Those
unprepared or disruptive are simply not ready to participate in most of our
schools. It is deceptive and cruel to pretend that all of them can be brought
up to par, and in some cases become psychologically adjusted, in our schools as
presently planned. However, for everyone's sake, effective, humane alternatives
should be developed. Unprepared or agitating students should not be destined to
either flounder or disrupt others.
All of my ordained parish
service has been shared with full-time teaching positions. During these years
in churches I have been shocked more than once by some members young and old
who are mean-spirited, undermining, and malicious. Regrettably, now and then we
encounter divisive individuals whose inner turmoils lead to chronic lashing out
at handy targets. Related to what I said moments ago, children and adults
lacking adequate stability and maturity, those who are chronically hostile and
malcontented are simply not ready to participate in the full life of most
congregations. In fact, they often harm parish life and unfairly exhaust
energies. Churches are neither rehabilitation centers nor arenas for the
constant venting of unresolved, unfocused anger. "Going to church on Sunday" is
not a magical substitute for the therapies needed to resolve most inner agonies
or conflicts. For the sake of all, we must consider returning to the ancient,
apostolic requirement of committed preparation in faith, including a basic
inner quieting, before fully sharing in congregational life.
In the 130-member parish I
served formerly, a one-time worshipper announced as she was leaving that she
wanted to become a member. She would bring the Holy Spirit to this parish
(apparently for the first time since its formation in 1796), her way. At
that time parish life had recovered from a survival mode and was developing
well. I thanked her for her interest, but encouraged her (kindly, I hope) to
explore other parishes, even other denominations where she might be more at
home. In my judgment, she would have been a mismatch for that congregation at
that time; her mission with her alleged "holy spirit" was
potentially divisive and would require an inordinate amount of time and energy.
She did not return. Likewise, during my teaching career, I had occasions to
recommend that some students not register or not remain in my courses; also,
some failed. They were mismatched with what the school or my classes provided.
Ideally they should have had alternatives. Nonetheless, I have never been under
the illusion that I could pastor or teach everyone or that all churches and
schools can be all things to all people. Hopefully, however, other options
exist, or they should be created.
I propose that occasionally it
might be necessary for the good of a school or church community to advise
someone to withdraw or perhaps to not enter in the first place. Educators and
pastors especially have the sensitive responsibility to help individuals
understand whether they're prepared for involvement or whether they should
leave until they're ready to reenter. Each of us might ask ourselves whether
our participation in this cathedral flock promotes unity or disharmony.
I realize that I'm presenting a
debatable view and that I'm not providing precise solutions. My point is that,
regardless of how inclusive we long to be, we cannot pretend that everyone
showing up at every school or church is ready for substantial involvement. Too
many teachers and clergy, too many schools and churches believe that they're
failing when they can't quickly remedy deficiencies or cure embittered,
mischief makers. In reality some people are mismatched with their school or
church; they are not ready to benefit from or contribute to the ministries
offered. The development of various preparations for education and for
meaningful church life is as urgent, worthy, and complicated as the creation of
any national health program. Until we provide alternatives, we'll continue to
expect schools and churches to offer and deliver what they are not set up to
provide - with the result that many people will be misplaced or even abandoned
spiritually, psychologically, and educationally; and, schools and churches will
suffer needlessly from disunity and fragmentation.
In today's Reading from the
Gospel Jesus prayed elegantly for the completion of his revealing work. We
heard him pray for his disciples remaining in the world after his ascension,
that we may be one in purpose - as God and Jesus are one. Simply put, our
ultimate mission is to invite all people to "get a life;" to discover the
genuine life in Christian fellowship; the life united in committed,
mutual respect; the life of friendship ever growing in love and service. All
humanity is called to the abundant life of harmony among diverse folk willing
to differ and find workable resolutions. Everyone is offered the faith-filled
life witnessed as one household of God "to the ends of the earth."
However, one neither
automatically "gets" the Christian life, nor does one have an unconditional
right to it. Diverse people who choose to share the responsibilities and
blessings of true life in Christ must prepare their hearts and minds.
Furthermore, our progress in living out this sacred common purpose requires
ongoing efforts strengthened by God's Holy Spirit - whose vitality and power
are specially celebrated next Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost. Moreover,
essential to everyone's preparedness and unending growth is thoughtful and
heartfelt prayer - prayer which builds and nourishes our unity with God and
with each other, prayer without which the Christian life remains only a
wonderful idea in one's mind. In this very Eucharist you and I pray with words
and music; our covenant with God through Christ and our companionship with each
other are fed and enlivened.
Accordingly, and borrowing from
our Lord's words, we pray now and always, "Holy Father, protect, strengthen,
and sanctify us in Christ's name, that we your Church may be one, as you are
one with Him." Amen.