Today's OTHER Holidays

Today is traditionally Halloween in this part of the world, but it is also Reformation Day and Día de los Muertos. I wore red today for Reformation Day, and mentioned both holidays to a few people, mostly to odd/skeptical looks. Most people seem to be content with the dressing up and partying for Halloween. I am glad for the other two options of the day, however, because I long ago lost much interest in holidays because they didn't seem to have lot of meaning, and I like these two options because they do. I appreciate celebrating the souls of those who have gone before us, and I appreciate remembering the day that Luther began his challenge of the church. Both are, to me, more like what holidays should be, commemorating something important in our lives and histories. May we celebrate our lives as we remember those who are no longer living in this world with us, and may we embrace our theology and church as we work to make the world a better place and live in God's grace and mercy. Amen.

Acts of God...

I was looking this morning at the booklet that came about the new Worker's Comp stuff we'll have at work (I was supposed to go to the meeting last night but didn't...yea well). I ran across this in there, and felt it was worth noting.
"No benefits will be payable under the plan if: ...the Injury arose out of an act of God, unless your employment exposes you to a greater risk of injury from an act of God than ordinarily applies to the general public..."
Now, aside from the fact that I find this outright humorous, I also feel there are some deeper ironies. First, I find it interesting that we are very hesitant these days to speak of God in general, yet in these legal type documents any natural disaster type stuff is often called an 'act of God'. That in itself bothers me a bit, because it then seems to imply that God often and maybe only acts in ways that injure and destroy, which I would quite disagree with. Second, it does not, at least not here, define an 'act of God', so I would say then that they most certainly will not cover you if you happen to incur God's wrath and receive a lightning strike. Although, I wonder if one could argue higher risk for injury from an act of God by working customer service and being more likely to incur the wrath of a customer who has the power to call down an act of God... Clearly appealing for compensation under the premise of being cursed won't work either.
I really just find it rather ridiculous that this terminology is used at all. It was obviously not written by anyone with half a theological inclination, because that would leave all sorts of openings for dispute. I could argue that my employment exposes me to greater risk of injury from an act of God because this is not where God would have me and I am not compliant with God's will. Basically, the whole things just makes me laugh and shake my head and wonder a little.

Jesus vs social justice

I was reading the note from the editor in this November's issue of The Lutheran, and towards the end it quotes a letter from a reader who had decided to let his subscription run out because he thinks "many of the people writing for The Lutheran try to tie diversity and social justice issues to the ministry of Jesus and in doing so misinterpret the Bible." I just wonder, after reading that, what this person thinks the ministry of Jesus was about? I am almost afraid to guess. Why does this person think Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners? Is that not related to social justice? Jesus related to Samaritans, and that is not related to diversity? I don't think God really plays favorites with God's children. I think our human understandings limit our ability to appreciate the diversity of this world, but if God created all of us, why would God not love all of us and want all of us? God sent Jesus to redeem the world, and while we have royally screwed up this world, I don't think that means God has been limited in God's power to redeem. I think people have done many great injustices to other people. We are all human, all equal. All broken, needy, suffering, just trying to figure out how to live with what we have. I do not understand how some can be so cruel and lord over others. Well, I feel like I'm rambling a little, but I just want to point this out, and raise awareness, and ask you to think about this.