In response, The Rev. Dr. Rodger Y. Nishioka offers these reflections: "Despite a myriad of social media platforms to connect with one another, steadily rising numbers of Americans report feeling more isolated.... People want to know others and to be known by others." He goes on to declare that especially in this kind of social context, "to be known by God through the body of Christ is a remarkable gift."
To arrive at this insight, The Rev. Dr. Nishioka draws on the wisdom of Dr. Parker Palmer, whose spiritual inspiration he distills as follows: "Parker Palmer describes both knowing and being known as emanating from love. Palmer notes that the kind of love that shapes our knowing and being known is not a 'soft and sentimental virtue, not a fuzzy feeling of romance.' For Palmer, this love is the 'connective tissue of reality' that makes a bold claim on our lives."
As Reverend Nishioka emphasizes, such love "implicates us in the web of life and wraps both the knower and the known in compassion. Palmer says this knowing results in an 'awesome responsibility as well as transforming joy; it will call us to involvement, mutuality, and accountability.'"
I find joy this day in Dr. Nishioka's enlivening commentary, and for his bringing forth and building on the spiritual wisdom of Parker Palmer. Some years ago, I attended a two week course with Parker Palmer and biblical scholar Walter Wink entitled "Community, Conflict, and Healing" at the Quaker Community of Pendle Hill. What blessings we received during those two weeks--one in the spring, and one in the fall. As a community of pastors and scholars, we learned so much together!!
Here is a little more about Parker Palmer: Now 85, he is an American author, educator, and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. He has published ten books and numerous essays and poems, and is founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage and Renewal. His work has been recognized with major foundation grants, several national awards, and thirteen honorary doctorates.
The book Dr. Nishioka draws on in his reflections on John 10:14 is Parker Palmer's "To Know as We Are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey." One of Palmer's more recent books,"On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity & Getting Old" was the gold medalist in the "Aging/Death & Dying” category of the 2019 Independent Book Publisher Book Awards.
The Rev. Dr. Rodger Y. Nishioka graduated from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, taught at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta for fifteen years, and is currently Senior Pastor at Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, Kansas. His fuller reflections on this gospel passage can be found in Connections: A Lectionary Commentary, Year B, Volume 2, 2020, pages 247 and 248.