And We Sojourn On...

We here at Love More Less Fear have heard from so many of you over the last few weeks, and I wanted to respond as soon as I could think straight. Well, I have not been able to do that – Haha! So, here goes.

This Fransiscan version of the Serenity Prayer might sum up well what many of us are thinking. So, for the most part, I want to address how many here at LMLF are feeling right now.

I do not know why I am stunned when I read “God won!” and other such sentiments on social media platforms. For, there are many, many of us that believe in God and believe in the scriptural commands to “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, and strength and Love your Neighbor as YOURSELF,” and we do not align with this sentiment of winning/losing. I have heard people say things that are making assumptions of others. And, I am trying to piece together all of this with the added task of acknowledging our feelings, our overwhelm, our concern for the future as we understand that we are truly a divided people for so many reasons. So, if this post seems partisan to you – please just scroll past. If this is something you want to delve into – here we go.

There are several people that I follow, read, incorporate as teachers and influencers in my life. Kate Bowler, Richard Rohr, Joan Chittister, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Diana Butler Bass, Walt Brueggemann, Phil Stout, and Ben Cremer to name a few. Many have podcasts, newsletters, books, blogs, etc… that can be readily accessed. And MANY of my thoughts mirror or at least have similarities with the writings and thoughts of these amazing people. But, there are a few thoughts that I have garnered from my time in grad school as well as just being here on this earth for as long as I have been here. And, I ask you to bear with me as I try to write what I am feeling.

First, I just got home from my on-call night at the hospital where I cared for, prayed for, wept with and walked with some pretty remarkable people. I believe in resilience, because I see it every day. But resilience is hard work, and it is exhausting work. So, while I am not quite despairing, I understand those who are!

You see, our trans friends, our gay friends, our young people, and so many more are concerned, and they are already tired from their battle to just exist peacefully in this world. Someone close to me recently said, “We need to fight against the gay agenda of needing more people to be gay.” I was stunned – WHAT?!?! That’s what you think the “gay agenda” is?!?! This is the type of ignorance that we must rail against. I saw another meme that put it this way, “I am not trying to get your child to be trans. I am just trying to help the trans kid become an adult.”  Please see the following from The Trevor Project:

“In just the past few days, The Trevor Project has seen a nearly 200% increase in conversation topics related to the election across our 24/7 crisis services,” said Jaymes Black (they/she/he pronouns), CEO of The Trevor Project. “While alarming, we are not surprised to see that the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ politics of the past few years continue to harm young people’s mental health. 90% of LGBTQ+ young people said recent politics negatively impacted their well-being and, transgender youth have been disproportionately impacted – with new research showing anti-transgender policies increased suicide attempts among transgender youth by as much as 72%.”

(Just trying to insert a moment to breathe and calm our nervous systems. I love the color. That's all. Back to reading.)

If this were the only thing that we were facing in the new Trump presidency – that would be enough. But, what many are feeling is this despair over the rhetoric of hate, the mass deportations that would leave so many children and families in harm’s way, and the laws (promising to be passed) that keep harming families. The government should not be making our decisions for us. We know our kids, and we know more about what is best for them than for officials to TELL us what is best for them. We need to make it EASIER for communication and journeying together, not HARDER!

And, what of so many who have come before us, trying to pave the way toward equal rights for everyone? I know we disagree on many things! I get it! And, as I try to reconcile what is happening with my own feelings I just cannot do it. So, what I have decided to do …. Is leave the country! Haha! Just kidding, but I have thought of it often!

What do we make of the revised serenity/Fransiscan prayer found at the beginning of this piece?

Here is my take…

I have recently reconnected with my calling to be a pastor, a wounded healer, and a mender of hearts (of sorts). A couple of weeks ago, my mentor and educator looked me in the eyes across the table and declared vehemently, “Teresa, you ARE A PASTOR!” I wept openly. He sees me. He knows my heart. And he reminded me of who I am.

After being kicked out, diminished, silenced, and humiliated, I had somewhat resolved that I would never pastor again. And, I had rescinded my credentials to that set of people whom I no longer identify as the “Christianity of my childhood.”  Yes, I was in my 50’s when I sent them in. But I had known for decades that it was not just a change in my point of view that had taken place, it was an acknowledgment of something I had understood since I was a child: THE LOVE OF GOD WAS AND IS FOR EVERYONE – FULL STOP!!!

My life-verses found in Luke 4  had never been rescinded, and had never stopped speaking to me…the words of Jesus quoted from Isaiah that reframed the religious responsibilities from the Old Testament to the New. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:16-19 quoted from The New Oxford Annotated Bible/Fully Revised Fourth Edition, New Revised Standard Version.) What wo do not always remember is that the “vengeance of our God” piece from Isaiah 61 was left out!!!  Interesting…

This compassionate God becoming man, REFRAMED the LAW to 2 commands that were to overshadow all else: Love God, Love people!

And, so you see, it is THIS CONCEPT of LOVE over and above fear that MUST WIN OUT in my mind EVERY SINGLE TIME!!! The guard rails being placed on others’ lives by those who believe they know what is best – is NOT LOVE! It is the result of the need for control, power, and authority, and it is NOT LOVE!

When money, control, power and authority take over we have things like the Holocaust, Constantine’s quest for a “Christian” kingdom (which involved the Crusades and conquests for MORE POWER, etc…), genocide, slavery, the subjugation of people of color, women, children, and more.

When LOVE rules, fear whimpers and runs back to it’s corner. People understand freedom, hope and possibility. When LOVE wins, despair does not overtake whole groups of people. When LOVE wins there is no need for vengeance, greed or anger.

So, again…I KNOW THAT MY REACTION NEEDS TO BE LOVE! 

HOW CAN I DO THIS?!?! Well, we have an example of “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Who said it? In what context?

Yes, I know you know. Jesus said it as people were crucifying him for what…??? He was not overtaking Rome! He did not call down the angels to save himself. He did not use weapons or authority or power to WIN! Instead, he LOVED!!! He LOVED those who were considered the outcast, the broken, the hurting, and the marginalized! Instead of lording power or authority over ANYONE – Jesus LOVED.

O God, “Grant me patience to work with unjust systems I cannot change today, the courage to strategically enact progress when I know I can, and the wisdom to know that despite structural oppression, I still can make a difference. Amen.”

And we sojourn on…here and/or from another country…haha!

LOVE MORE LESS FEAR…ALWAYS!!!