Wrestling With Doubt My grandmother died on Valentine’s Day. At the time, I tried to write her a tribute but kept getting stuck. Memories tumbled over each other, refusing to condense themselves into words. I couldn’t articulate a lifetime of warmth and joy juxtaposed against the harsh reality of her absence. Words couldn’t do her justice, and I erased my feeble attempts. Rather than struggle to express my aching heart, I wanted only to sit in my memories and let... Read more
Dear Churches, Please keep your rainbow flags flying. As June ends, many progressive churches are putting their rainbow paraphernalia back in storage. But those whom the Church has demonized need to see these symbols of welcome. For those who suffer bullying, the rainbow can symbolize belonging. Those afraid to explore or live into their full selves can find hope under the rainbow’s arch. Right now, children and adults shudder in fear of condemnation, worrying that they are broken. Some are... Read more
To all who have set aside their dreams due to anxiety, who suffer from failure of confidence, who fall into self-doubt time and again… I am right there with you. Sometimes, we rationalize our way out of pursuing our callings. We prioritize the logistics of day-do-day living and let our dreams fall behind, reluctant to confront our fears. If this sounds like a confession, it is. I’ve let the Holy Spirit’s call go to voicemail. Fear of failure has stymied... Read more
Subversive Blessings The Sermon on the Mount, as I wrote in my last post, is the blueprint for building Beloved Community here on earth. It begins with the Beatitudes, subversive blessings on those thought to be cursed. Love’s Dominion is founded upon those thought to be unloved to show that Love is all-encompassing. In a world of measuring our worth over and against each other, the Beatitudes affirm God’s solidarity with the last and least. As we continue to explore... Read more
Beloved And Misunderstood The Sermon on the Mount is the cornerstone of Jesus’ teaching, embodied in his ministry. It encapsulates Jesus’ vision of how to live into our true identities as living images of Love. Yet despite being one of the most beloved passages of scripture, the Sermon on the Mount is frequently misunderstood and weaponized. Sometimes it’s benignly regarded as an impossible standard, calling us not to obedience but humility as it exposes our shortcomings. More nefarious interpretations draw... Read more
I. As Christmas draws near, I’m thinking About a courageous, vulnerable girl on the brink of motherhood, On the brink of a new world being born Through her very flesh, and blood, sweat, and labor… She knew what she was getting herself into, At least to some degree. She knew that her “Yes” to the Spirit was a risk. Joseph could desert her (but thank God he didn’t) And the neighbors might whisper and snicker behind her back, And... Read more
“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” (Matthew 24:44) Hope In A Violent World The Season of Advent is upon us. In a world of violence, hope is breaking in. The lectionary readings leading up to the birth of Jesus — Love embodied and born anew — begin in an unexpected place. The first Sunday of the liturgical season that prefigures Jesus’ birth begins with a warning about the world... Read more
How Can Love Reign Supreme in a War-Torn World? Christ the King Sunday is approaching. On this last day of the liturgical year, Christians are called to celebrate the reign of Love over all the world. And yet the world is gasping for life as the forces of fear, hate, war and greed suffocate our planet. How can Love reign supreme when peace seems beyond our reach? Why, over two thousand years after the resurrection of the Prince of Peace,... Read more
Respecting Soldiers; Rejecting War It is Veteran’s Day. As a pacifist, this is one of the most difficult days of the year for me. I honor soldiers. But I believe war is evil. And while their evil is often naked and obvious in hindsight, wars are fought and remembered through a veneer of glory. Enemies are demonized and their destruction deemed necessary for survival. The suffering our enemies cause is very real. But so is the suffering we inflict. And... Read more
It’s The Most Spooktacular Time of the Year A mischievous spirit swirls through the crisp autumn air. As the afternoon sunlight splashes across the bright fallen leaves, a giddy anticipation fills the atmosphere. Parents line up to collect their children from school, and once that final bell rings, it’s go time. You ready your bowl of candy near the front door, hoping you’ve prepared enough. Before you know it, you see them at the far end of the street. Crowds... Read more
Faithful Peacemaking
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