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an open letter to god

1/31/2017

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Hey God, its me again. I'm more than a little frightened and very confused. Are we descending into the final days of the Republic? I have never known such complete disregard for the rule of law -- even a bit more courtesy would be a comfort. Everyone sounds so afraid and hiding the fear behind anger, criticism and a wholly irrational posture that anyone can know much of anything "for sure" most especially in the days of photo shopping and "satirical news". It all just seems so insane.

So here is what I'm asking for myself:  

Let me see more clearly; even if I don't like the truth, surely it is the best and most powerful position. And let me be humble, never assuming that I have the whole story or that there are simple answers because no one can and there never are.

Let me remember that behind that person who is in my face is Your Child and that if I can't discuss something calmly I need to walk away at least until I get some perspective. (This one is so hard Lord, when someone is emotionally abusing their child or parent in public, but I know prayers count and You love them both, abuser and abused, equally and see the shattered core of each. Still, it feels like a burning building where I long to jump in like Wonder Woman and I need Your wisdom and strength to keep from causing additional harm, while not missing a chance to help.)

Let me hear Your voice as I consider where to put my energies and abilities. I am aware that You have not gone on vacation and left me as the responsible party to labor in every broken place, so I deeply need Your Spirit that I might discern what fights to enjoin and where to put my shoulder to the wheel. And help me to stay fully dependent on You Lord, so that in each moment I lean on You rather than my limited abilities and resources because experience tells me that the better I do this the more people are comforted, tended, loved and renewed--the greater is the harvest.

Let me not be distracted by the shear depth of brokenness in this world, but indeed to pray without ceasing that I might be kind to every broken heart (which is all of us) and fearless because speaking the truth about anything rarely ushers in a time of carefree frolicking, but rather often leaves us targets for people who are enslaved to their addictions and arrogance and fears and rage. 

Let me be willing to assist and open my heart to love even the least attractive of Your children - the enraged, the demanding, the critical, the terrified, because You loved me at my worst, my most broken, my most terrified. Let me see the invisible of our culture: the lonely aged, the disengaged child, the poor, the ill, the hopeless, the desperate and answer Your call to add my hands and feet in aid of them.

I clearly can't do any of this on my own, so I ask most humbly and confidently for the gift of Your Spirit, by the blood of Your Son. AMEN


Mark 8:25 Again Jesus laid his hands on the man’s eyes, and the man opened them wide. His eyes were healed, and he was able to see everything clearly.
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we have many common goals but stunningly different ideas about how to get there

1/20/2017

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A Christian's job in any political climate is the same. Where there is injustice, we fight for justice. Where there is war, we work for peace. Where there is inequity, we speak for righteousness. Where there is fear, we bring hope. Where lies prevail, we seek truth. Where there is oppression, we break chains. Where there is immorality, we speak for holiness. Where there is exclusion, we draw the circle wider. And where there is evil, we resist with love. That is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We have plenty of work to do. Let's get to it. (Matt Miofsky)

Do you want to harangue your political representatives? Please feel free, though I can only think of one time I thought they might possibly have heard and, frankly they usually get my name AND my position wrong if they bother to write back at all. Do you want to throw money at the sorrows of this world? Please do that, especially if doing so means you have to give up something you are less comfortable without, but make sure the money is going to do what you think it is doing. The best way to do that is to show up, volunteer in person, serve on committees and boards to lend your abilities and passion, pay attention to annual reports and do your homework. Because doing the easy stuff is just not going to make a difference; there is too much indifference and arrogance and greed.

So do the hard things: put your back into making things better, put your time into showing up to be respectful and truly understand folks who need a hand up, put your heart on the line. Oh, and you might think about this excellent piece of advice I received some years ago...don't just shout that the building is on fire. Offer informed, thoughtful ideas for what might help or at least explain what you've tried that did not work and how it might be tweaked the next time around. And don't ever give up: when it doesn't fix it, try again, and try again and try again. There is plenty that needs doing, plenty of people that need to be heard, to be treated kindly, to be encouraged and empowered, plenty of status quo that needs challenging with BETTER IDEAS and COMMITMENT, plenty of bad legislation that needs to be replaced with better ways of doing, loads of things that intelligent people need to research and discuss and ACT in response to -- in smart and effective ways.

At the turn of the 20th century there were no TVs, cell phones (or really phones at all), internet or dozens of other things that can make life more convenient, faster, so people spent time learning as a group activity, reading, thinking. discussing, considering, working to improve. Now we seem to spend the time around the water-cooler disrespecting each other about sports and off-the-wall political pornography and "public personalities" latest silliness.

Really folks, it is time for all hands on deck: Think, pray -- a lot, research and evaluate, pay attention, ask good questions, hold people accountable -- corporations? sure; government? you betcha; but also not-for-profits and our OWN churches, bosses, community leaders and OURSELVES. But do this gently because there are PEOPLE involved and we all have tender hearts and fragile egos so a little humility as we lead, follow, observe to comment, and serve is always helpful.
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    Jann's son was incarcerated.  She longed for a community where she could connect with others dealing with similar issues.

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