One of those weeks.

When the cares of my heart are many,
    your consolations cheer my soul.  Psalm 94:19

            I have been in transition for a few weeks, leaving one congregation and moving to another.  We have been in our new home for almost a year and it seems that just now I am feeling the pains of leaving our home of 27 years. In a few days we will head off to celebrate my 35th class reunion!  Our daughter and her family are preparing to sell their home and move to a new neighborhood.  All of this has left me a bit vulnerable to the news.  Have you ever had that happen?  Our own life circumstances can make watching the news overwhelming. When the ground under our own feet is less than steady the typically rocky news can feel like an earthquake.

            I see stories that make me anxious for the vulnerability of our young people, for our government and the environment.  Acts of violence, political chaos and melting icebergs can leave me asking "What are we doing?" 

            I see stories that I do not fully understand and I see responses that I understand even less.  A young man dies from a fireworks accident and it was beyond my comprehension how quickly and viciously some people condemned him or even laughed at his actions.  It only made wonder if they thought they could avoid tragedy by making such declarations as to their own superior judgment.

             At times it is beyond comprehension how we treat each other.

These are the times when I cry easily as well, not full out cry, but you know what I mean, I get teary.  My eyes fill with tears as I watch Barbara Bush kiss her husband, a president I never voted for, I have seen the same clip three or four times over the past two days and I have the same reaction every time.

            When I think about this I am reminded that there are times when vulnerability is a good thing, it can help us to look at the world and people in it in a new way. When we are less than sure of something a great change may occur. There can be a stirring in our hearts for people that we may never have imagined.

           

            In the midst of all that the news inundates us with, there is hope.  A young woman survives a plane crash and in her lowest moment when she is sure she will die, she says  "I can't die like this-not ever hugging someone again!"  A hug!  A hug gave her the stamina to carry on.  Is it really that simple?  That what can inspire amazing courage and spirit is this simple act we so often take for granted?

            I have enormous gardens in our new yard and yet a simple flower growing up out of the stone brought me great delight.  This little sprig reminded me that honestly-- this is the norm---people overcome great struggles and oppression everyday and they rise up out of the dark places to life.

            The news may try to bury us in all that is wrong, all that hurts but in the end there are signs all around us that there is more. There is more to be done, more to be said and more to see.

Shel Silverstein may say it best:  "Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” 

Clear Browsing Data?

       As I cleaned out and packed up one church office for another there were last minute details that would finalize this transition.  Files were put in order, trash emptied, personal remains removed and last but not least I deleted files and cleared the history on the church computer. 

 

           

            I looked at the words "Clear browsing data” and I thought "There are plenty of us who might want to clear some of our own history this easily."   One click of a button and the past actions are gone, well we all know some people can override the system, but for all intents and purposes--gone.

            Recently Ben Affleck has been in the news for his request that the PBS series "Finding Your Roots" omit the discovery that one of his ancestors was a slave owner.  Affleck later stated that he was embarrassed by this but apologized for trying to hide the information---in other words, I might say he tried to "clear the browsing data."

            What difference would it have made to anyone if this information had been shared?  I like to think it might have made a statement that we can move on from the bigotry and racism of our ancestors. 

            A few years ago I was having a conversation with 2 middle school students.  One was asking the other if they remembered what a bully they used to be.  The other said yes and apologized.  Both students were known for bullying.  At one point they looked at me and asked “Have you ever been bullied?”

            My response “I have been bullied and while I don’t have a particular situation in mind I am sure I was a bully.”  It would have been easier to leave out the second half of my response but their reaction was worth the honesty.  They could not believe this and thus began the conversation of how our actions without any conscious intent can feel like bullying to others as well as our acts of righteousness.  I fell to peer pressure; I whispered with my friends (whispering can feel like bullying even if it is only about the weather) and I did not draw my circle as wide as I do today.  It was not a comfortable conversation and it made me sad and ashamed when I looked back with knowing eyes. 

           

"You cannot erase the past. You must let it go. You cannot change yesterday. You must accept the lessons learned." Author Unknown

            All throughout the Bible God asks the people not to forget where they have come from and Jesus asks that we remember him always, that we remember his actions always.  Don't forget the oppression and always remember the comfort and healing available to all people in all times.   Our response is a part of our relationship with God.

            We celebrate the independence of the nation today, an independence born from determination and dreams of change.  A birth made messy by the violence and oppression of indigenous people.  It is by fully recognizing our past that we can fully celebrate who we are on our way to becoming. 

In spite of the conflicts in our nation today, the violence and the fear---the world is still full of dreamers—that is worth celebrating—it is a part of our DNA.

            As I shut my office door one last time I was aware of the pastors before me who have done the same, each one of us a part of a church's whole story.  Each appointment full of hopes and dreams along with a few mistakes. 

In spite of the conflicts, the hurtful accusations and the fear--the church is still full of dreamers---that is worth celebrating—it is a part of our DNA

We've a story to tell to the nations,

A story of truth and mercy,

A story of peace and light,

......We've a message to give to the nations,

...God is love--- (Adapted from the hymn)