The Occupy Song

The Occupy Song
By Eric H. F. Law

Occupy my mind
With skills to tell what’s true and right
So that I’m no longer blind
To the falsehood we must name and fight
The system shelters the rich
While the rest of us are down in the ditch
So, occupy and stay . . . in my mind
In my mind

Occupy my heart
With passion for the common good
So that I will take my part
To rebuild a prosp'rous neighborhood
Where justice shines like the sun
and there’s food and room for everyone
So occupy and stay . . . in my heart
In my heart

Occupy this place
With mercy, truth and liberty
So that we’ll come face to face
With our friends and with our enemies
We’ll listen, speak and share
While we learn to do what's righteous and fair
So occupy and stay . . . in this place
In this place

(I dedicate this song to the Occupy Movements across the globe.  Watch the music video of The Occupy Song on my Youtube channel at GraceInCyberSpace.)

There was no room at the inn.  So Joseph and Mary occupied a stable or a cave somewhere in Bethlehem, probably illegally, and there she gave birth to the baby Jesus and put him in a manger.  This is how the Christmas story was told in the Gospel of Luke in the Christian Bible.   God chose to come to us as a baby, not a powerful warrior, nor a king, nor a prophet nor a high priest.  Even though the baby is small and helpless, she has power to capture everyone’s attention, fascination, and imagination.  A baby has a way of occupying completely her parents’ hearts, minds, every thought and even dreams. To hold a baby is to hold God in our arms, face-to-face, innocently and intimately.  God, through a baby, calls for our attention, occupies our hearts and minds with hope and generates new possibilities. Through a baby, we are reminded of the responsibilities that we have for what we are given – to move from scarcity (no room at the inn) to sustainability (community around a baby in a manger). Will you let God occupy your heart and mind like a baby occupies her parents’ lives? 

Invite members of your community to spend the coming week paying special attention to babies, especially when they can hold one for at least 5 minutes.   Gather members of our community for a time of reflection with the following questions: What does a baby call us to do in order to create a sustainable future? At home? In our community? For the nation?

Reflection Questions for Christmas Day (Year B) Isaiah 9:2-7     How do you find the light in your darkness? Psalm 96   How do the images of God in this Psalm stand in contrasts with the image of Jesus in the Christmas story? Titus 2:11-14   How has the grace of God appeared to you?    Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)   How can you let this story of Christmas occupy your life?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org

Come to Los Angeles in 2012 to study with The Sustainist, the first  two opportunities: February 27–March 2, 2012 Kaleidoscope Winter Institute Holy Currencies Conversations on Money and Sustainable Ministry March 14–18, 2012 Face to Face Seeing and Hearing Each Other . . . Knowing God Creative liturgy & music for a diverse and changing world An ecumenical gathering of church leaders to create worship experiences that are authentic, relational and missional