“Chaos or community?”

There has been a great deal of debate in our nation over the last week and a half. Some folks said, in the wake of the attack,
“this is NOT who we are.”
Other folks, including a number of my friends who are involved with the Black Lives Matter movement said no,
“this is EXACTLY who we are.”
We could debate the meaning and merits of the arguments until we are blue in the face. I think a bigger question is at stake.
“Is this who we want to be?”

What road will we choose?

I’ve heard a lot of talk this week about the need to work for “peace.” I’ve heard a number of elected officials and church leaders call for reconciliation. I’m not praying for either of those yet. I’m not. One of the prayers our Prayer Book asks God to help us “fearlessly contend against evil and make no peace with oppression.”
I’m not praying for reconciliation. I’m praying for conversion. I believe we need conversion before we can talk about peace.

Light in Darkness

Friends, there isn’t just a light at the end of the tunnel. There has been light in the tunnel the whole time. You, for me, for so many, have been little lights shining. And the darkness did not overcome us. Keep letting your lights shine, even as we can hopefully see that big light at the end of the tunnel.

Not the Christmas We Would Have Chosen

This Christmas, if you are grieving the Christmas that could have been, perhaps there is an invitation. Next Christmas, will we look backward to all of the picture postcards of our childhood, or will we look forward? Will we work to make sure that in the year to come there has been good news, great joy, for all, yes all the people?