Have you loved your neighbor with your vote?

We are two days away from Election Day. It is the nature of any election, that each party feels they have the path to a better future, and are rarely shy to say so, nor to make sure everyone knows the other party doesn’t have a clue. The rhetoric makes good copy for ads, speeches, signs, and other forms of political promotion, and this year’s election isn’t any different. Having said that, this year truly does feel different, heavier perhaps, more divided, more partisan, and more extreme than other elections. As I sat in Mass (Church) this past Sunday, I hadn’t really taken note of the scriptures assigned to the day from the lectionary readings. It was the reading from the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 12, that stood out, particularly in Fr. Javier’s homily (sermon) that would follow.

Mark’s 12th chapter includes the story of Jesus, speaking to the teacher of the law, of the love of neighbor. Jesus was drawing upon the book of Deuteronomy (6:5) from the Hebrew scriptures, where the Israelites are commanded to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength. Jesus doesn’t necessarily add to this command, but as is typical with him, he seems to go a bit further, to connect a scriptural teaching to our lived lives, or at least what our lived lives should look like. Isn’t that the nature of the Incarnation of God? So for Jesus, to love God is to love the image of God’s as expressed in the creation. But not in some existential or cerebral manner, but in the day-to-day experience of living, in context with and through each other. Not the easiest of tasks to be honest.

As I listened to Fr. Javier speak, I was moved by the passion he spoke with about the dehumanization of his own beloved birthplace and home, the Island of Puerto Rico, uttered at a rally by a representative of one candidate. You could hear the anger in his voice, and one could certainly understand the source of the emotion. And yet, in his next sentence, he found the grace to acknowledge that a representative of the other candidate spoke similarly of the first candidate’s followers. In truth, God’s creation was, and has been, dehumanized from many directions and voices, in this election and certainly within our history as a nation. I am reminded of Pope Francis’s words that neither candidate has a completely clean slate when it comes to the sanctity of life. I would say with a humble certainty, that none of us do. Pope Francis’, urging, specifically for Catholics, was that we are to discern who is the “lesser of two evils” when it comes to the sanctity of life, through the lens of an “informed conscious.”

The phrase, “sanctity of life,” evokes different thoughts for everyone, given their own experiences and the needs of their own loved ones and circles.  It’s application by most Catholics and Christians is much more-narrow than the continuum the application covers. It begs the question of who’s sanctity it is referring to? And Christians are not consistent in the answer.

Perhaps that brings us back to the command of Jesus, to love our neighbor as ourselves. “Neighbor!” Another one of those terms that has as broad of an application as the number of people you ask to define the word. We often think of neighbor in terms of “proximity.” That person right next to us, on our block, in our community. It doesn’t mean we have a relationship, or at least one of any significance.  Proximity as well, most often defines for us who is NOT our neighbor. But is this what Jesus meant by “neighbor?” He had a tendency to buck the norms of the day. Who else at the time would speak to the neighborliness of the “Good Samaritan,” to a culture that did not welcome that very same Samaritan.

It seems to be a habit of humanity to draw lines in the sand of various kinds, with the purpose of designating who is “in”…and who is “out!” But does Christianity welcome such lines? Did God only create parts of the creation, or was it truly ALL of creation. If it is the latter, who are we to minimize that for our own purposes, or perhaps insecurities. I am always reminded of the lesson from a Muslim brother of mine, who stated that one’s neighbor is not the next house, but the next 100 houses…that there is no end. In another piece, a more active call for the Christian was raised: “Who do we make our neighbor?”

As each of us, particularly those of us who affiliate with the Gospel of Jesus, who do we call our neighbor. Which candidate do we think of when we consider the protection of the sanctity of life? Or that of he immigrant? The homeless? The migrant? Those impacted by systemic racism? Those in the LGBTQA+ community? Children suffering from lead poisoning in their homes? Those living in food desserts? Children at all stages of life? The religiously diverse? Those with disabilities? The elderly? The undocumented? And sadly it seems these days, even Republicans and Democrats? The list could go on. 

As Pope Francis urged, we are to choose the lesser of two evils. Or perhaps another way to say it, we are to choose the candidate that most honors the human dignity and the imaging of God in each person and each community So the question for me is: “Will I have loved my neighbor through my vote?”

Thanksgiving Day: A Complicated Day of Thanks for Many

Good evening. It is always a joy to spend time at a Dialogue Institute event with so many old friends and now new friends. While the flyer said I was presenting a keynote, I don’t want to put too many words between your food and myself. But I will share some words with you tonight.

I must confess that when I was asked to share on the topic of Thanksgiving and gratitude, I was a bit amused and even surprised. I do not think of myself as a very grateful person. Giving thanks is not always easy for me. “Thanks” was not a word that was used much in my family setting. Additionally, if any of you have taken a personality test such as the Myers Briggs (MBTI®), CliftonStrengths™ Assessment, the Enneagram, or others, my personality type tends to fall in categories that deal more with critique, rather than gratitude. Again, my mom, who I love dearly, was great at what we called “constructive criticism,” leaning more heavily on the “criticism’ part. So gratitude and giving thanks have always been elusive for me. It is not my default reaction.  Some of you may be very similar. And yet, many of you find a sincere level of gratitude and thanks, and awareness of the gifts and privileges we all enjoy in various ways. Giving thanks comes so naturally for you without thought or hesitation. Makes me nervous sometimes!

The reason I am addressing the topic of thanksgiving and gratitude is obvious as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day later this week. As many countries celebrate a day of thanks, I think it is important to consider the context of our Thanksgiving celebration here tonight in the United States, It is a complicated expression of thanks. The mythic story of Thanksgiving stems from the story of the First Thanksgiving Meal, reenacted in just about every elementary school this time of year for decades where a kids dress up in paper Indian bonnets and Pilgrim hats they have made. The Indians and Pilgrims greet each other and then all sit down and share in a meal.  In some sense, it has become a creation myth, a story that is part of the civil religion of the United States. It marks the arrival and survival of the first Pilgrims, whose story is one of seeking freedom of religious expression, also part of our national narrative. Yet, they were also known as Puritans, coming from their desire to practice a pure version of Christianity. Ironically, they were basically considered religious extremists for their day, not accepting of other expressions of Christianity, let alone any other religious traditions. They did however endure much losing almost half of their community during the harsh winter. Their relationship with indigenous peoples was more complicated than the elementary story tells. They were eventually encountered by the Wampanoag People, a community that had lost 50-90% of its own community due to disease brought on by European fisherman who visited the coast. The Pilgrims had robbed the graves and stolen food to survive from this same community. But there were other Indigenous tribes in the area, and a need for security brought these two decimated groups together, perhaps more out of need than virtuous charity. Sometimes necessity is the means of overcoming barriers of difference, prejudice, and fear.

For many in our indigenous communities, perhaps even here in this room tonight, Thanksgiving Day is also considered a “Day or Mourning,” a reminder of colonization, the theft of culture, a genocide of their people, a history that we have been reminded of this past year with the numerous remains of children found in unmarked graves at several sites of boarding schools operated by many Christian denominations, such as Catholics, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians. For them, the days is one of conflict, one of thanksgiving and one of conflict.

It reminds me that the process of Thanksgiving and gratitude can be complicated. Often, we are experiencing gratitude while our neighbor may be experiencing the opposite, such as a tornado touching down or a fire hitting Central Texas, taking one neighbor’s house, but leaving the another’s intact. One is grateful while the other is suffering loss.

Yet, the idea of cultivating a heart of gratitude can be found in most faith traditions and worldviews. The Hebrew Psalms say, “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Yet, the idea of cultivating a heart of gratitude can be found in most faith traditions and worldviews. The Hebrew Psalms say, “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Catholic priest, Fr. Richard Rohr in describing a central tradition in Christianity, the Eucharist, which means “thanksgiving”, says that in embracing God, “you are making a choice for gratitude, abundance, and appreciation for Another, which has the power to radically de-center you. Your life and death are pure gift, and must be given away in trust, just as they were given to you as gift—in an attitude of gratitude.”

Fethullah Gülen says that the word “shukr” “Literally means gladness felt about and gratitude shown for the good done to one.” He goes on to say, “Sufi’s use shukr to mean using one’s body, abilities, feelings, and thoughts bestowed upon one to fulfill the purpose of his or her creation: being thankful to the Creator for what He has bestowed. Such thankfulness is to be reflected in the person’s actions or daily life, in speech and in the heart, by admitting that all things are directly from Him, and by feeling gratitude for them.”

I would like to offer up the consideration that “gratitude” and “thanksgiving” encompasses a “responsibility,” particularly in our corporate or communal understanding of the world. We are a communal people, something that is not endemic to the American ethos, but it is very much a part of most religious traditions. For those of us in the Abrahamic traditions and I suspect in many others, God created the world and humanity long before the United States was created. Our worldview, if perceived through the lens of faith, calls us to a communal understanding of the world, and of humanity. It is an understanding that what impacts us, also impact those around us, both for the good and for the not so good.

Our “responsibility” in the action of gratitude and thankfulness, is to enter into the narrative of our neighbors, into their joy and into their pain.  It is also entering into the narrative of Allah’s presence in the creation, of Allah’s ongoing work in our lives in the smallest of things and in the largest of things. The small things of life are often easier to be grateful for. They are often visible, the bread on our table, the clothes on our backs, the car we arrived in here tonight. And our gratitude for such things, help us to cultivate a heart of thanks for the more difficult things in life that we often don’t understand, particularly those things in the world about us that seem out of our control. But the process of gratitude takes an intentionality, an awareness, and remembrance, and perhaps even a vision or recognition of God’s enduring presence.

For myself, I must give more thought about what is at the heart of gratitude and thankfulness for myself. Is it my “Stated Trust” in God? Or is it something else?  Am I mindful of what blessings I have had in my life. We each are grateful for different things, and that is all right. We have to be careful on how we judge or impose the focus of our own gratitude onto another’s focus of gratitude. I realized in putting this little talk together that I once started a spreadsheet of things I was grateful. I haven’t looked at that or added to it in many years. It took me awhile to find it, but I am going to return to it as an exercise of cultivating gratitude. As I expand my awareness of others, of my community, of my world, perhaps my gratitude will become grounded in a deeper awareness of God’s presence in my life while also in the integrated communal presence in the lives of others. I think a celebration of Thanksgiving Day, as a national commemoration, calls us to the larger responsibility of the interconnected of our lives, and the gratitude we gain from living together in the pain and joy of each other’s lives, experiencing the presence of God in each other at the same time, which is something we can all be grateful for.

(delivered at the Dialogue Institute Austin Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner, 11/19/22)

 

 

 

 

Sowing Seeds for Racial Equity

The Gospel reading for this 16th week of Ordinary time in the Christian liturgical calendar is a familiar one, especially for those who like to get their hands dirty either farming, or just planting some flowers around their dwelling place. Jesus is talking about the sowing of seeds and the type of ground they fall upon. The basic gist of Jesus’s story is, the better the soil, the more likely the seed is going to grow. Seems pretty obvious, at least to those experienced with agriculture in some manner. But of course, Jesus is talking in parables, metaphorical stories, so seeds and ground are only the backdrop, the metaphor of what he is getting to. It is pretty common to hear and understand this Gospel story in the context of one’s personal relationship with God, and how an individual is living their personal life. A valid approach. But I would like to offer a different lens. Is there a communal application of this story? As I reflected, I began to see a different story emerge, one speaking to racial and economic justice.

Jesus speaks to four types of soil in this Matthew version of the sowing of the seeds. Adjusting my lens to an equity reading of the story, some different interpretations emerged. Jesus first speaks of seeds falling on a path and the birds eating up those seeds right away. As I think of a path, it is usually a place where the soil has been packed down over years of use and foot travel. I had heard once that it can take up to 100 years for a worn foot path to fully disappear and be restored back to its original natural state due to how much the ground has been compressed by traffic.  As I thought about this, I was reminded of how the history of systemic racism in the United States has produced a cultural terrain or ground, so to speak, that has been harden by years of bigotry and systemic oppression. Bias have been passed down through our children, through our systems, through our bodies, through our cultural expressions, and sadly even through our understanding of the divine. Attempts to address systemic racism and grow new understandings of how God intended the human family to live amongst itself, has met years of hardened attitudes and structures. The footpath of systemic racism has been worn well into our path and direction. It is the easiest path to walk on. But it leads us to the same insidious places unless we venture off the trail to a new human reality.

The second soil Jesus talks about is rocky ground. There is soil there, not much, but enough for seeds to begin to grow. But, there was no room for roots to spread, dig in, and provide nourishment and stability. The sun easily comes along and withers whatever attempts to grow. As I thought about a racial justice application here, I thought of many of us, particularly in the white community who desire to do things differently regarding systemic racism in this country. We try to engage bigotry and systems of oppression with great intent. But, we often tend to wilt, like the seeds in the story, at the first signs of discomfort or lack of knowing what actions we should pursue. I think of the phrase, “white fragility” when I think of the seeds on the rocky soil. Those of us in the white community try for a while to change and grow, but we get tired, impatient, frustrated, and we start to feel insecure or uncomfortable. We eventually wilt away from the conversation. We weren’t grounded in the right soil, the right relationships, the desire to foster impact rather than intent. We weren’t ready to really change the way we approach the field and grow a new type of crop.

Jesus next speaks about thorns that grow up and choke the seeds. There are many voices that wish to impede any change or any advocacy for racial justice and the dismantling of systemic racism. It is easy to point to extremist groups such as the KKK and other white supremacy groups and even Christian nationalists. But we don’t have to look that far. Through our own implicit biases or lack of courage, we often unknowingly join in with those very voices ourselves, but still with harmful impact. For example, I have found myself using phrases rooted in racist origins that I had no knowledge of or failing to challenge jokes and comments made by family and friends where the “humor” is based upon targeting another.  But also sadly, when we are confronted with what power and privilege we may have to give up in the pursuit of racial equity, we often choke off our own desires for equity and change due to the perceived personal cost.

Yet, Jesus offers hope. There is good soil where seeds flourish and yield wonderful fruit. Good soil is created by turning it over, allowing the soil to be exposed to oxygen, to water, to compost, to nutrients brought by the wind or from other life sources. The turning of the soil allows those additives to be sunk further into the toiled soil, so that there is loose and nutrient rich soil that goes beyond the surface deep into the ground. The remnants of the previous year’s harvest, becomes part of the compost in creating new soil as well. The work of racial justice and dismantling systemic racism is a similar process. Our systems, our soil, has to be turned over on a regular basis. Air must be provided for the soil to renew. Many people of color have been cut off from the air, as we saw in the very stark killing of George Floyd. Our systems have made the ground hard, and we must till up the hard ground, packed over the years of slavery, segregation, and continued systemic injustice. And just as the remains of the previous year’s crop, the stems and stalks, are turned over into the tilled soil to provide nourishment and compost for the next year, we also draw upon the examples and wisdom of our elders to provide the compost for growing a just and equitable world, where new and diverse crops can grow providing new tastes we never imagined. 

The question I continue to ask myself, is how willing today, am I to get my hands dirty, tilling new soil for racial equity.

Liturgical Cycle C – Day 235 – July 20, 2022

Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time

(St. Apollinaris, opt. memorial)

Readings:        1st Reading                  Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10

                        Responsorial Psalm     71: 1-4a, 5-6b,15 and 17

                        Gospel                         Matthew 13: 1-9

New Wine Skins and Dr. King!

Another MLK, Jr. Holiday has passed, the 36th such national celebration now since Congress created the annual commemoration, and Black History Month is on the horizon. When MLK Day was first established, I remember many questioning the need for the holiday. Perhaps it was a veiled, questioning of the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. Our only other national holidays observing people were for Lincoln and Washington, and even they had been relegated to one generic President’s Day. For MLK Day this year, quotes by Dr. King were coming from even the most unlikely places and voices. I guess quoting Dr. King is now in vogue, perhaps safe, and perhaps for many a useful strategy.

To be honest, I am conflicted about the holiday. It is not a question of whether Dr. King should be remembered?  Yes! Absolutely, without hesitation, he should be honored as well as so many others who forged the path for his work and those who continue to walk it still today. What concerns me I think, is the manner in which many of us choose to remember Dr. King. And to be straight forward, I am mostly thinking of those of us who identify was white and benefit from the privilege of being white, regardless of our political ideology. For so many still working in the struggle of the Civil Rights Movement, it is a day to remember a significant and prophetic voice, and perhaps draw strength and energy for the ongoing and seemingly never-ending work ahead. A resilience to be admired. For others, it was a well-intentioned opportunity to look at a piece of history of the United States, perhaps for another a unit for the Social Studies classroom and curriculum, and for many, it was another 3-day weekend and a welcome time home with pay, or perhaps without pay for many others.

 As has been my daily routine the past two years, I have been reflecting upon the daily scripture readings from the Christian common lectionary, specifically to see how power and privilege show up in the readings. To consider the civil rights work of the Rev. Dr. King through the lens of scripture seems appropriate. Dr. King was as a pastor and a person of faith in the Christian tradition, which was the moral grounding for his work. Yet, he approached his work of racial equity in a manner that brought all peoples of all backgrounds together in the task of dismantling racism and systemic oppression within the United States and beyond.

So what did the scripture say on MLK, Jr. Day this year? The first reading was from the First Book of Samuel (15:16-23). The Prophet Samuel, not an uncommon thing to happen between prophet and King in the Hebrew Scriptures, is reprimanding Saul, the first King of Israel. Seems Saul was more focused upon offering sacrifices to God, platitudes, rather than actually completing the task that was given him, of working for his people’s safety and freedom. The Lord was more interested in the actual “impact,” rather than the “intent,” of Saul’s actions. The second reading came from the Gospel of Mark (2:18-22). Again, we seem to have a situation of misplaced intentions where the actions of Jesus’ disciples are called into question by the power establishment because they were not “fasting” in ritual observance, a perceive lack of reverence for God. Jesus’s response calls into question the “impact” of these esthetic practices, rather than serving the needs of the community. This won’t be the last time this question is raised. But Jesus was there with them, and thus God was there, and there was work to do. It was not the time for ritual observances. People were in pain and needed physical AND emotional healing. His is a different purpose and intent, one that calls into question, the prevailing attitudes and actions of the day. He metaphorically talks about the destructive impact of new wine into old wine skins, incapable of holding the newness of the new wine. Old ways won’t cut it. God, Jesus, is in their midst, not in some unseen place and time. Jesus is standing right there, God is standing right there. Burnt offerings and symbolic smoke rising to the heavens aren’t necessary.

So what do these stories have to do with remembering Dr. King and this national holiday? Both stories seem to offer a caution about performative actions, symbolic gestures that in the context of the stories, diverted away from what was most importance. For Saul and the Israelites, the Lord was not interested in the platitudes of burnt offerings. The Lord wanted commitment to the unfinished task that stood before the Exodus people. Burnt offerings were premature, if not even worthy. In the Gospel story, as we think of the work taken on by Dr. King that started long before he was born, it is an incomplete work. It could even be argued given some of the events over the past few years, that the work has even taken a few steps backward. Given the rise and resiliency of white supremacy, Anti-Semitism, attacks on voter rights, misinformation campaigns about critical race theory, and other conditions of systemic racism, the work of Dr. King is certainly as relevant and pressing todays as it ever has been.

The quotes attributed to Dr. King are given out of context by many, often with good intention, but also co-opted in many instances for purposes that even go against the work of Dr. King. We struggle as a nation on how to talk about our history of racism, resisting efforts that call for new ways of analyzing our history. We attack approaches we often have little knowledge of, because it offers a different paradigm, a different lens through which to view the world, to interpret events, to view ourselves. They ask us to shift, to consider a change in the views that have often been embedded in us, usually without any questioning. Change is never easy, particularly for those who must experience the loss of privilege & power that comes with it. For many of us and perhaps for our country as a whole, observing MLK Day has become a way to celebrate for one day, while evading the ongoing, more difficult task of working for justice and equity on a daily basis within our own spheres of interest, within our own identity. Memorials of various forms can often be used to preserve the status quo, even if that is not their intent, and often without the realization for many that this is what is happening. We utilize old methods to try to fix problems created by the very systems that fostered the “old methods.” Or, as in the case of new approaches such as “critical race theory” and other approaches to equity work, these new methods are forced to accommodate “old approaches” to avoid for many of us, having to experience discomfort and a disruption of privilege and power in a racialized world.

Yet, the old skins, the old methods, are not up to the task of embracing real change, real equity, and real justice. These old skins, these old methods, can’t hold up. We need new containers, new wine skins to hold a new vision of the world that yes, DOES judge a person by “the content of their character.”  But that can only happen once we have dismantled and transformed the systems of systemic racism that HAVE BEEN judging people “by the color of their skin” for over 400 years throughout the systems of oppression that have been erected. Let me emphasize that there is a sequential order to Dr. King’s famous quote because he was addressing systems of behavior, with the latter part only really possible after the occurrence of the first part. Until we dismantle systemic racism, our individual expressions of respect will have little impact on the systems we operate within. There is NO short-cut. We each, I, must reflect upon our own contributions to this work of dismantling systemic racism in our own lives, families, and circles. We must ask whether our efforts are performative, even perhaps with good “intent”, or are we willingly embracing the discomfort that innately comes with the work of fostering equity and inclusion (impact), of fostering systems that recognize the “image of God” in each person as the Hebrew Scriptures speak of.

Dr. King was a radical in his day, denouncing historical systems of oppression, what is often referred to as “American’s Original Sin.” Any close look at his writings will reveal that his words are still relevant and sadly, often are still very radical today. The sin of slavery, of “America’s Original Sin,” which gave birth to segregation, of systemic racism and systemic oppression, attacked the soul of a nation then, and sadly, continues to do so today. We can honor King for sure, but not at the expense of the uncompleted work he gave his life for. Dr. King’s fight was for “new wine skins,” for a society that has dismantled systems of oppression such as racism, poverty, war, and any other condition denying the imaging of God in people and communities. This is our work as well, to make new wine skins and to fill them with the “new wine” of equity, justice, and inclusion for all people.

How Courageous Are We Really

Several weeks ago I attended a monthly forum titled “Courageous Conversations” about racism within the City of Austin.  The forums are intended to bring together parishioners from several of the Roman Catholic Churches and has branched out to include Lutheran and Methodist churches here in the area.  The forums began as a response to the many incidents of racial bias and police brutality making national news over the past year.  The desired outcome of these forums still seems to be open for determination, but it seems like a positive step, for now, I think.

At one of the forums, the question was raised concerning the lack of more African-Americans attending.  “Why were they not there in more mass?”  “Why weren’t the historically African American faith congregations joining this discussion, one initiated by leaders in the community dedicated to eliminating systemic racism in our community?” Well, maybe not exact quotes, but they capture the thoughts.  We had close to, if not more, than 100 people in attendance, but the majority of those present were Caucasian.  Where were the African-Americans when whites were ready to talk?

The question that was raised has stuck with me ever since.  It comes to mind with each forum I have attended since then, that seeks to discuss racial intolerance, or intolerances of any kind.  Ironically, many of these forums have also been predominately attended by whites, well, maybe not so ironically.  The question raised prompts several questions from me in reaction.  Why would African Americans want to attend such a forum?  What do they have to gain?  What is the new knowledge they gain about racism?  I think the better question is: What is their fatigue level in listening to “whites” stumble through our awareness building process of understanding our unrecognized bigotry or at least our unintentional participation in sustaining the wheels of systemic racism in our community?  That was a mouthful.

Why does it take several high-profile incidents of police shooting an African-American male to get whites to take notice?  There is enough going on within our own spheres of involvement with regard to racial intolerance, that we don’t really need a national event to raise our radar.  The “velvet glove” of racism as Joseph Barndt refers to it, is woven throughout our immediate social structures.  We (whites just to be clear) really shouldn’t need to be awaken by the occurrences of such violent incidents on national television, or “iron fist” that he refers to.  Just to be clear, I am one of those white.   So, why WOULD African Americans show up for one more conversation about race, as if they don’t know what is going on?” That may seem confusing for us whites who truly with great intention, want to end the systemic presence of racism within our community.  We’re ready, so we think.

It is not the first time that whites have gathered with indignant reactions to such obvious atrocities.  Atrocities are easy to denounce publicly.  It is hard to “rationalize” an atrocity away.  With today’s media and social media capacity, there is usually a paper (well…digital) trail to keep it in the visual forefront, making it difficult for even the staunchest skeptic.  And hey, today, denouncing such an obvious incident doesn’t even hurt!  Haven’t seen a fire-hose at a capital rally in ten years of living in Austin.  Nothing like a good march or protest to the state capital, especially if it is a nice day out.  Just make sure you check the Capital event calendar to pick a good day for a rally.  After all, someone has to set up the podium!  Of course, for those who have trouble getting up in the morning, there is always a good forum or discussion to attend (my preference of choice) where we can act out our support.  Again, I am one of these folk.  It is one of the aspects of white privilege that I enjoy.  I can orchestrate my support at my convenience and level of desired cost.  And I do.

The reality is, it is not like I don’t know what is going on.  I actually even teach about this stuff in my classes.  I think the discussions and the education is important.  It can never end or be enough.  But I often question what it is I actually do to contribute to systemic change.  I think we (whites) have a nostalgic understanding of the Civil Rights Movement, especially those of us actually too young to have lived through it.  Who can’t help but get invigorated by King’s speech on the steps of the Lincoln Monument when he is loudly proclaiming, “Free at Last, Free at Last”.  To be honest however, I am more interested in the “promissory note” he mentions.  My own personal reality is that I was but a babe during the Civil Rights movement.  I have no real memory of that period.  The students I teach now, were no more than five years old at the time of 9/11.  I respect that we have living saints in our midst that “walked with King” (sometimes even ‘Martin’) during the Civil Rights movement and we have much to learn from this period of the fight.  And I am aware as much as I can be today, that marching then, especially in the earlier phrases of the movement beyond national television took an interest, was much different than marching today.  It is important knowledge to know that people have risen up against oppression, often at the risk of bodily harm and social isolation.  But what is the “marching” of our day.  Where are we at today?  We don’t march today with the threat of fire hoses being pointed at us.  What does it cost me, except for my time and inconvenience?  And to be honest, there is usually a good upscale food truck within walking distance of the capital!

When I teach about racism, I define it as prejudice/bigotry + power.  Community organizing defines power as “organized people and organized money.”  The question for me concerns the cost of racial reconciliation.  We can continue to talk, and must never stop in that endeavor, but what does the talk lead us to, what does it lead ME to?  The difficult realization for those of us who enjoy privilege, whether it is economically or culturally, is the urgent need to dismantle the layers of privilege in our culture and in our faith communities along economic, social, cultural, governance, and in expressions of worship.  Let me put that another way, I must dismantle the layers of privilege in my own life.  The dismantling process has a cost.  You are dismantling something someone else has invested in building.  The dismantling also is an internal process as well.  Many of us have built up inside of ourselves our own layers of cultural protection from having to deal with such difficult issues.

Recently in Austin, the BlackLivesMatter movement held a rally at the capital, and then chose to move the rally to the interstate and were able to, for a brief period, close down a section of I35 which runs through the City of Austin and serves as symbolic and real barrier dividing Austin along racial and economic sides.  The organizer part of me asks the question of what was really accomplished.  There were probably a few citations issued by the police and perhaps some federal charges as well.  But the action did not change anything and in pragmatic side says, not a useful action.

And then there is the privilege side of me that is able to create a series of internal reasons why not to participate.  I might get arrested and for what?  Such an arrest could impact my employment.  I could spend some time in jail and carry an arrest record with me into any future job interviews,  and probably a few other reasons if I thought long enough.  The question for me really is, what will it take for me to take a REAL, legitimate stance in the work of breaking down the layers of systemic racism.  I am asking others to be willing to give up of their privilege.  I am not so sure I am willing myself.  It took me a long time to finally acquire it (although I am sure it was there way longer than I knew).

So, how long will I be at the table this time to talk about systemic racism?  How long will the whites attending Courageous Conversations be willing to stay the course.  Will we all be willing to look into ourselves to do the internal work of dismantling racism within ourselves.  I hope our African American friends will be patient just a little longer to allow us to catch-up in our awareness.  God help them as they certainly don’t want to wait around for us whites to get it!

 

Let Justice Flow Like a River

On a recent Sunday morning bike ride around Town Lake in Austin, Texas, I was lost in thought about recent events, that saw a new President elected in the United States and an eruption of shocking reactive acts.  Never has a Presidential election been so embattled in my memory of Presidential elections, and I was alive during Nixon! 

While on my ride, I eventually came to the Longhorn Dam, which backs up the Colorado River forming the lake.  Peering over the bridge, I noticed it was the first time ever that I had witnessed the dam releasing access water from the week’s rainfall.  It got me to thinking about the recent events…yes, the election, sorry!

Overflowing Waters

Before I set out, I was torn between going for the bike ride or heading to Austin’s City Hall for a rally in support of immigrants, many now feeling their status in this country deeply threatened.  There have been many other rallies of late around the country protesting similar things concerning immigration, racism, police violence, economic policies, loss of jobs, threat to the working class, and so much more. 

The water pouring through the release portal reminded me of the surge and outpouring of emotions I have witnessed lately.  Just as the water level had exceeded the ability for the dam to contain the overflow creating the need to release water, emotions have peaked for many in our country leaving them with the need for a release. Thus the numerous expressions of protest throughout the country.

Drought

Yet, lake levels at times have been strikingly low, revealing downed trees and other dangerous debris lying below the surface, often out of sight. Racism and other forms of marginalization operate the same way, often lying just hidden below the surface in our communities and sometimes within our own hearts. 

Racism within the Faith

As a Christian who has worked in ministry for over 20 years, I would like to say that such a state of racial prejudice is due to a world that rejects Christ and God, but the reality is that this same peril exists just as strongly within the Church and within the Christian community, an existence described all too well in Emerson and Smith’s book, Divided by Faith, and reported on by Christianity Today, both detailing racism within Christianity (mainline, Catholic, evangelical, the works!).  The authors note, that Sunday morning is the most divided time within Christianity, when people congregate to faith communities largely represented by people that look like them. 

Racism is alive and well within the church, big C or little C.  It is a human thing, a pervasive display of sin.  It is not a God thing, although unfortunately God often takes the rap for it, or just as bad, Satan gets too much credit.  We, in the body of Christ, make decisions, or sometimes worse yet, we don’t make decisions. 

I love Austin’s Town Lake.  When the water level is normal, people get to row, canoe, kayak, watch the bats, and enjoy the water, thinking little of any potential risk.  But the local water authorities know better about the potential dangers.  I sometimes….well, quite often…feel that many (me included) in the church, and I am speaking primarily to my white sisters and brothers, approach the body of Christ (well, all of God’s created brothers and sisters), much like we do our weekend excursions to the lake. 

We are largely unaware of what lies just below the surface that might pose even a deadly consequence.  Sadly, our culture within the body of Christ and in our interactions with the larger society often reflect this same approach, we show up, do our worship, sing praises, say we will pray for each other, and then go home, often unaware of the situation of life for our sisters and brothers of color. 

While racism is often associated with attitudes between individuals, racism is usually defined as a structural condition within communities and institutions in which one group enjoys unearned privilege, over another group.  Dismantling racism in our society is a difficult and complex process that requires an unwavering intentionality.  I would offer that such an intentional process in transforming our faith communities, is required of us, who call ourselves persons of faith, Christians.

I first became aware of this at an InterVarsity Diversity conference in Jackson, MS, back in the late 90’s sponsored by Chris Rice and the late Spencer Perkins, two individuals who committed themselves to a multiracial friendship.  It was not a feel good conference, but a working conference. Difficult questions and difficult answers where shared, and resolution was not achieved.  But a discussion was started, not about whom the ministry was ministering to, but amongst those in the ministry and the structure of the ministry itself around its own internal racism.  It was a bold conference for its day and the location (as reference to so many times throughout the weekend), but it was only a start.  We cannot “just love Jesus” unless we learn to “just love each other” as Jesus would have.

Conclusion

What has been embedded for so many years, does not unravel so quickly, yet as people of faith we move forward in hope, especially in this season of Advent.

Bigotry has reared its ugly head with more confidence in these past few weeks.  We as a people of faith, are called, required, expected, to push back wherever we see it, in society, but first in our ministries, communities, and in our own hearts.  It is expected of all of us, but for those of us who are white, there is a greater imperative.  Bigotry and racism is a sin that hurts EVERYONE. We can’t wait for the waters to crest or dry up before we take notice.    

Rivers of Life

 

One of my favorite spots in Texas so far is the falls and rushing water found at Pedernales Falls State Park.  I have always been fascinated by flowing water, the sound of it thrashing through crevices or smoothly flowing around a small obstruction.  I am as content sitting on a ledge listening the thunderous sounds of a fast flowing stream as I am sitting in close to watch the smallest flow of water meticulously finding a path around the contours of the rock.  Nothing seems to be able to stop the flow short of a dam.  Regardless of the obstacles, a path is eventually found.  The contour is sometimes very sharp due to the recent breakaway of a portion of the rock, but over time, despite the deepest cuts and scars etched into the rock, the surface slowly gains a smooth feel due to years of water polishing the sharp edges away.

Water, a metaphor of life!

It is no wonder that the use of water as a metaphor for life is so prevalent in many of the religions of the world.  Often, it is the life-giving aspect of water that is so often referred to as it enriches the soil and breaks free the dormant life found in the seedling.  Or water is often used to illustrate the absence of life.  It is the scene of the dessert that evokes images of the parched earth, straining for any relief that the tiniest amount of moisture can bring, evidenced by the sprouting of dessert flowers after the smallest of rains.  But it is the flowing water that evokes a different image that speaks to the flow of life, just as we describe the flow of the stream.

Life is this flowing experience that often takes a course we do not plan.  Life, the water, runs into the walls of our lives, the rock that serves as walls for the stream.  Sometimes the wall gives way, our lives seem to crumble around us without explanation.  The water may not be able to break through obstacles, but it will find a path around until over time a more direct path can be carved out.  Life often takes a similar path.  We are impacted by the path ahead of us.  We often have to change course or direction.  But just as the source of the water comes from way up stream, the source of our life comes from our creator and sees no end.  We continue to flow, to move forward despite the sharp edges that life inflicts upon us, yet over time the sharpest of edges will slowly be rounded and smoothed away.  The sharper the edge, the longer it may take, but the edge will be tempered.  Life will only stop moving forward when we are lost to this world for another place, just as water will only stop flowing when it is dammed up or its run is depleted.

Conclusion

In the Catholic tradition, we have been observing Lent, in preparation for Easter Sunday when we commemorate the risen Christ.  Lent is a time marked by the dessert motif, a time of dryness, where the rivers of life have dried up, but the seeds of life only remain dormant.  Nothing worse than walking into the ministry office and reaching for the candy jar, only to find rocks where there was once chocolate!

Yet, we await the risen Christ and the wellspring of life in his resurrection.  The dry bowl does not signify death, at least a permanent one.  Life does not stop during Lent. We live, we work, we love, we hurt, and are reminded of the scars that invade our life on this earth.  But we are also reminded that God can smooth the sharpest edges of our lives.  That redemption comes from the well-spring of God and God’s loving kindness.  The waters flow and seep into the ground restoring the water table, just as the love of Christ seeps into the deepest recesses of our lives, soothing the deepest aches and pains of the body.

 

Lent, the Prequel to Easter!

As I write this, the Christian/Catholic community at St. Edward’s University, along with Catholics around the world, are getting ready for the beginning of Lent.  By the time you might read this, we Catholics will have already experienced the Ash Wednesday observance, which involves the receiving of ashes on the forehead by one’s local priest to the tune of, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”  The ashes come from the leftover palms from the previous year’s observance of Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.

YOU HAVE A SMUDGE ON YOUR FACE!

The disposition of ashes in the form of a cross upon a person’s forehead is not as easy as it might seem.  It takes a bit of talent and a good steady hand.  Catholics have a pretty good self-depracating humor, so we even have descriptions for some of the artistic renditions of ashes. These include the “blob”, which looks more like a large thumb print, the “Rorschach”, which you can probably imagine what that looks like, the “mini”, which can barely be seen from any distance, and my favorite, unless I am the recipient, the “Father’s Revenge”, which is usually the size of a Crusader Cross that can been seen from a mile away.

Regardless of the outcome, we have no control over the type of cross we receive.  We walk out into the street enduring for the rest of the day, people telling us we have something on our forehead, trying to do us a favor.

WHY ASHES?

So, why do Catholics and many other Christians line up every year for ashes?  The quick answer is that it is an appropriation of the Jewish penitential practice by the early Church, based upon the book of Daniel: I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes” (9:3).  The reception of ashes is an outward sign that one is acknowledging their sin before God and their community (an important aspect) and desiring to continue to seek Christ in their life.

I am reminded of Matthew 5:23-24, where we are commanded to set aside our offering to the Lord if we have offended someone, to take care of the offense and then come back to honor God.  The Lenten season is such a setting aside.  It is 40-some days of spending time in the wilderness of our lives, fasting, praying, seeking a hunger for God, coming to grips with our dependence upon God, knowing that despite the facades we often put up in a culture that does not quickly embrace signs of weakness, that as a children of God, we can acknowledge that we are frail and weak.  We can acknowledge that in our weakness, God is a resting place for us, that Christ is a refuge.  The Christian faith is incarnational, because Christ came into THIS world.  It is in the ashes of our daily lives, our finances, our neighbors, our jobs and professions, our treatment of others personally and institutionally, every aspect of life, that we must reconcile with God through the grace of Christ’s death on the cross.

This is a difficult process requiring discipline and intentionality.  It is one of the things I love about the Catholic tradition, the numerous rituals, practices, observances, saints, prayers by rote, that all help us to build spiritual disciplines.  Can any of these take on more importance in and of themselves than they should?  Absolutely!  Do we need to repeat the receiving of ashes each year to ensure our salvation? Probably not, or at least no more than we need to go to that 23rd altar call of our life.  But they serve as markers, as reminders of who we claim to be.

CONCLUSION

It is a joy to see St. Edward’s students gather each week for Mass, for reconciliation, for the blessing of Brains, the blessing of throats for colds, and yes, for ashes.  These are opportunities for them to publicly profess their faith and devotion, to remind themselves of their own desire to follow Christ, even when they don’t always know what that means.

For one day, they will walk around campus and go out into the Austin community with smudges on their foreheads. Hopefully they will have gotten a decent cross of ashes, which makes it easier to respond to everyone trying to let them know their face is dirty.  And hey, what a great opportunity to share one’s faith, through the true curiosity of others.

(first posted at Campus Renewal Magazine – http://www.campusrenewal.org/blog/2016/02/15/lent-the-prequel-to-easter/)

Will There Ever Be a Pope Thomas?

I love the evangelistic approach of Pope Francis in presenting the Gospel message in so many unique and refreshing ways.  The choosing of his name when he became Pope immediately suggested a new approach to the Papacy.  This may all seem trivial or confusing to those Christians outside of the Catholic tradition, but for us Catholic Christians, the naming of our Popes gives insight to what type of leader they seek to be and how they will share the Gospel message of Christ.

THE SEASONS OF LIFE

The Christian community has just worked its way through the Lenten season in anticipation of the Paschal Mystery that awaited us on Easter morning.  The ministry at St. Edward’s University was preparing students as well.  Students were invited to reflect upon and grow in their faith through our “Busy Person’s Retreat”, the “Mystery of Faith” retreat, our weekly Stations of the Cross which remembers Christ’s journey to the cross, and of course, our daily liturgies (church/worship) where we celebrate the presence of Christ in our midst.  The challenge is not to bring Christ to campus so that our students may encounter the risen Lord (we really have no control on the travel schedule of the risen Lord), but rather, the challenge is to help our students encounter the incarnated, ever present, risen Christ who is already in our midst.  I often make my work as a minister and evangelist way too difficult (as if it were my efforts that did the trick anyway….something about….what was it?….ah, the Holy Spirit!). 

ROOM FOR DOUBT?

Back to Pope Francis and his name.  St. Francis of Assisi had a simple message — love God and love others (both are inseparably in concert with each other).  This seems to be the basic message that Pope Francis wants to convey.  This willingness to extend humanity: building showers for the homeless in the Vatican, washing the feet of the female inmate who is Muslim, and other simple acts, all seem to emulate St. Francis’s call to speak the Gospel message on all occasions and when necessary, use words.  This approach seems to be drawing renewed interest and curiosity in the Christian message.

Pope Francis is already talking about the end of his ministry.  I was thinking about the name that the next Pope might take.  Here was the question that hit me: “Has there ever been a Pope Thomas?”  My first thought was “NO.”  What leader of a body of Christians would choose the name of the “doubter” to symbolize their leadership?  Doubting and Christianity has never been a popular duo. No one wants the label: “back-slider!” 

For me however, I think we could use a Pope Thomas in leadership.  St. Francis, like Pope Francis, had a lot of questions about God and for God.  I like that!  I fear the day I have God figured out (as if that could happen!).  I have doubts, lots of them, depending upon the day.  I wouldn’t be honest with the students I am ministering to and sharing the Gospel with if I said otherwise. The Lenten season reflects the ups and downs of life, something important to remember as we share Christ in our lives and through our lives.  The authenticity of Christ’s ministry was meeting people in their doubts, in their needs, in their heart’s desire.  It is in an atmosphere of love and acceptance that we are able to address our doubts.  Doubts are not planned or voluntary, they just are. 

I pray that I may be able to share my relationship with Christ with others, both the joys and the struggles of that walk.

(first posted on Campus Renewal Magazine – http://www.campusrenewal.org/blog/2015/04/09/will-there-ever-be-a-pope-thomas/)