Presented by Alice Mckinney

“Living with Thistles”

Presented by Alice McKinney

February 12, 2014

Let us open with prayer:

Lord, I pray that you will open our hearts and our minds to your Spirit.

Realizing that each of us is in a different place in our lives, I pray that you take my words, and use them to deliver the message that you would have each of us to hear.

Amen

Lesson:

Pastor Diane asked if I would be the program leader tonight and gave me information on a topic called “Revolution.” The Revolution of the curriculum is a revolution of love. Within the material she gave me I found information about “thistles.” Because I am a gardener, this information really intrigued me.

I would like to share with you Genesis 3:17-18.

(This is where God is confronting Adam after he ate the forbidden fruit.)

And to Adam God said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you: ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you….”

So, just what is a thistle?

Well, reading Genesis 3:17-18, my Bible seems to be pretty clear that a thistle is a serious curse. As one of my former preachers used to thump his Bible and say, “The Bible says it and that’s that.” End of conversation.

To Adam and many of us today, the thistle is a curse. It’s a noxious invasive weed. Thistles have leaves with needle-like spikes around the edges. These spikes can be all over the plant -- on the stems and even the flat part of leaves. If you touch them, they will stick you – and they hurt. Thistles have a deep tap root and I cannot pull them up by hand. Believe me, I have tried. They can be dug up, but I strongly recommend wearing thick gloves to touch them. Thistle seeds travel easily. Winds carry them a long way. Thistle seeds will survive a flood or live in a rocky hillside. Seeds that do not germinate can remain viable for up to nine years.

At my house, thistles shoot up in my lawn, or even a crack in the hot concrete driveway.

It is unbelievable what a huge weed will grow in a little crack that you did not even know was there. Drought does not even slow it down. The thistle is a tough, noxious invasive weed. It is a curse!

Or, is that just my opinion because the thistle isn’t like the rest of the plants I cultivate in my yard?

Here’s something to think about. The people of Scotland have an opinion different from mine. Thistle has been the national emblem of Scotland for hundreds of years. Every school child in Scotland learns the legend of the thistle:

During the middle-ages, the Scots and the Norsemen were at war. One night on the coast of Scotland, the Norsemen landed without being seen. To be as quiet as possible, they removed their boots and crept toward the unsuspecting Scottish army. Suddenly a sharp cry of pain pierced the quietness; one of the invading Norse soldiers had stepped on a thistle. His yell alerted the Scots to the surprise attack. The Scots jumped up and chased the invaders from their shores. The homeland was saved because of a thistle.

As a result, King James V established the most prestigious knighthood in 1540. It is known as the Order of the Thistle.

So obviously, the Scots do not agree with my noxious invasive weed view of the thistle curse.

That’s ok—as my husband often tells me, “Alice, you are not always right!” I know I am not always right. It is okay if people disagree with me.

When I came to First Christian Church Montgomery 14 years ago, Pastor Brian already knew who I was. He knew that I was then serving in the Cabinet of a Governor, who at that time had proposed a state lottery. Pastor Brian also knew that I supported that lottery as a source of funding for education. Pastor Brian explained to me the first day I set foot in this church building that there would be people on the same row with me who also supported the lottery, and there would be people on the same row with me who strongly opposed the lottery. He said Disciples have one thing in common -- knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Beyond that, Pastor Brian said Disciples do not always agree -- but that was okay, because that is who Disciples are.

I bought into Pastor Brian’s description of the way church should be, and that was:

Don’t expect to be spoon fed someone else’s interpretations. Expect to dig deeply into your relationship with God and form your own opinions. I found First Christian Church Montgomery to be exactly what Pastor Brian had described to me.

I know our members differ on many subjects. I get that! I learned not to discuss the merits of the “Affordable Health Care Act” with Don Taylor, especially while we are in the kitchen carving Thanksgiving turkey with sharp knives. I learned not to discuss social security benefits for non-working spouses with Artie Schultz. I also learned that Artie’s brother-in-law agrees with me on that social security issue, and not with Artie. But all of that is okay.

I try very hard not to offend other people with my personal political opinions – because that is all they are – my personal opinions. And, equally important, I do not take offense from people who disagree with me -- because that is who we are as Disciples. We serve one God, and we all come to His table of mercy and grace equally loved by Him. When we get to Heaven, I think that we are going to find out that not one of us had it totally right.

While I was preparing this lesson, my 4 year-old grandson Liam came into the room with a yellow sticky note stuck to him. Liam announced, “This note says, I love GiGi” (which is my grandchildren’s name for me). When I looked at the note, written by Keira, his 9-year old sister, I told Liam that he was not wearing a note proclaiming his love for me. He was wearing a sticky note that said, “I am a dork.” Liam was hurt and angry. I explained to Liam that it was okay, because no matter what label Keira might put on him— that does change who he is. I also explained to him that he needs to learn to read for himself, because you cannot always depend on other people, even those who love you, to correctly interpret words.

So Liam asked me to make a note for him that said Keira was a dork. Instead I made a note that said, “I forgive you. Please do not be mean to me. Love, Liam.” And I’ll tell you later how that came out.

But, back to my subject of the thistle. As I was researching the thistle, I found that most thistles have this pretty, soft purple center which is a beautiful flower. Yet, I did not realize that because I won’t let those thistles bloom near me. I know if you let thistles thrive and multiply, they will just be all over the place. And I did not want to be responsible for a thistles invasion in my neighborhood!

But then I read of a report by the Mayo Clinic. The report said the use of milk thistle (one type of these invasive thistle weeds) has been used to heal ailments for 2000 years. Milk thistle is still used by some today in the treatment of gallbladder and liver diseases.

I also discovered a place of business named Thistle Farms: A place that actually grows this noxious invasive thistle weed curse on purpose.

Thistle Farms was started in 2001 as a social enterprise to provide employment for the women of Magdalene -- women who had survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, addiction and life on the streets. Their first products were produced in an A-frame chapel by four people.

Who are these women of Magdalene? Magdalene is a residential program founded in 1997 by Rev. Becca Stevens, a female Episcopal priest. Women there are offered a two year residence program, which includes housing, food, medical and dental care, therapy, education and job training, all free of charge. Let’s look at the average Magdalene resident. The average resident:

o Ranges in age between 20 and 50,

o Was first sexually abused between the ages of 7 and 11,

o Has been arrested a hundred times,

o And has spent 12 years on the street in prostitution.

Rev. Stevens, the founder, was herself sexually abused as a child by an elder in her church.

The abuse started shortly after her father died and it first occurred inside the church building at a spaghetti supper. Rev. Stephens made, what seemed to me, to be a shocking statement. She said there is a thin line between becoming a being a prostitute and becoming a priest. I guess she was saying she knew where these women were coming from and she knew the path that she could have traveled.

While living there and working on the Thistle Farms, these women learn valuable skills in business. They learn how to manufacture, package and market products. They learn about sales and administration. They leave 2 ½ years after entering the program, with new skills. They learn how to move from poverty and a life of prostitution on the streets to the independence of new jobs.

So what is this product produced at this place called the Thistle Farms? Well, I looked it up—and I purchased something from their web site. By hand, these women create candles and natural body care products that are as good for the body as they are for the earth. Into every product goes the belief that love is the most powerful force for change in the world. They use all natural ingredients and earth-friendly practices. Ingredients include cotton wicks, soybean-based ecowax, olive and coconut oils, thistles and other plants, essential oils…and the list goes on.

This is a jar of body balm made by those women. There is a spoonful on each table. Dip your finger into this healing balm. Hold it on your finger. Take a deep breath. Breathe in the fragrance of the mint and tea tree oil. Rub it on your hand. As you do, think of the hands that made this balm. Think of those women at Thistle Farms who made this balm with care, with love and with grace.

So, is a thistle a bad thing as Genesis so clearly states?

Or, are the Scots right in that it is saver of lives?

Or, should I just see it as a beautiful flower?

Or, is the thistle a plant just waiting to bloom and to be used for wonderful things?

Can thistles actually change our lives if we let them, as has been done for the women of Magdalene?

Is there only one correct answer to these questions?

No.

The answer depends on where we are in our lives, as we look through the lenses of our own experiences. We do not have to agree about thistles or politics because we are Disciples and it is okay for us to have different opinions. You and I do not have to agree on everything to love one another as God loves us.

Now for the rest of the story about Keira, Liam and my beautiful note of forgiveness. Liam took the “I forgive you” note to Keira. She came into the room where I was sitting, put her head on my shoulder, hugged me and said “I’m sorry.” I know you are thinking how sweet and wonderful she is, but I felt her hand patting my back. Sure enough, when she left the room, I found a sticky note on my back. It said, “Kick me” and “Pinch me.”

I would like to tell you that your forgiveness, grace and love will always be returned in a like manner. But -- you and I know that it just doesn’t always happen that way.

Let us close with prayer:

Lord, as we go forth into the difficult world, so filled with injustices;

Help us to have the determination to share your love with all of your children.

Help us to remember there is value in all that you have created – including the thistles.

Help us to be quick to listen and slow to speak, as we discern your will for our lives as Disciples.

Help us to remember that we were not given the burden of judging others,

And that we cannot change the hearts of others;

Changing hearts is something that only can be done by you.

Help us to consider becoming thistle farmers, where the world is our farm,

And where no part of your creation is to be forgotten or condemned.

We thank you for your love and grace and for your abundant blessings.

We love you, Lord. We pray these things in the name of Jesus.

Amen

Presented by:

Alice McKinney, Teacher

Keystone Sunday School Class

First Christian Church

Montgomery, Alabama

Wednesday Night Service

February 12, 2014

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