Pray and Fight

I was in Harrisburg the last couple of days….bad news, the budget impasse continues; good news, Representative Frankel (D – Squirrel Hill) introduced legislation to expand Pennsylvania’s non-discrimination laws to include gay, lesbian and transgender persons.

As I was strolling the capital, I couldn’t help but notice the “prime real estate” occupied by several congregations. Walking past, I hoped and sent “be of good courage” vibes to the congregations to rise voice, bear witness and stand up and with those in the labor for what is just.

On one of the benches hewn into the cement walls in front of the capital, I noticed chiseled into the cement this quote by Muhlenberg: “There is a time to pray and there is a time to fight.”

To live faithfully we need to do both.

I came into my adulthood after the great justice movements that were central to the decade of the 60’s. Yet, with the issues of my time (inclusion for LGBTQIAA persons, the rights of persons with disabilities, and the many facets of poverty) I have joined in the long line of the cause for justice and seek to move the reality a little bit closer in the world we share.

During the various marches, rallies, and witnessing in which I’ve participated, there seems to be a noticeable lack of faith leaders joined in the cause. This both saddens me and angers me for I cannot separate the prophetic sensibilities from my calling…nor should I.

I am a firm believer in prayer. It works and it does “get ‘er done.” Yet, as the Whoopi Goldberg character in the film, SISTER ACT states, “We can do more for the people than just pray for them.” Yes, we can donate and go to towns and cities and build, re-build, lift and love.

However, there must be a time when we start to ask the important questions of:
In a nation with such wealth and resources, how can 1 in 5 children go to bed hungry every night?
In our great democratic experiment, how can we not labor for equal rights to be extended to all?
Does not my faith in a God of liberation and justice compel me to pray and to act and to labor and fight for what is just?

There are a lot more questions to be asked, that’s for certain. Yet, there is also a gnawing need for answers…and actions…..prayers and battles.

sj;

See what I mean?

I am the youngest of five and am the baby of the family by a seven-year spread on the youngest of my older siblings. Our house was a noisy affair with a lot of activity. Yet, amidst all the noise and words and energy one could always find a quiet space; what Virginia Wolfe would call that all-important “room of one’s own.”

I’m not sure how my parents pulled off this little domestic miracle, yet, a large farm-style house with magnificent front and back porches and set upon several acres aided greatly to the gift of one’s own space.

The mixture of raucousness and quiet spaces helped to shape me as one who enjoys a good party and one who needs silent spaces and time apart; as one who loves nothing more than a table filled with family and friends, good food and loud conversation and one who likes libraries and has no problem going to a movie by herself.

I share this because of a recent article in the New York Times (see Special Olympics and the Burden of Happiness by Lawrence Downes) that speaks of the isolation that impacts persons with disabilities and is the norm more than the boisterous cheers and hugs being experienced at the World Special Olympics which concluded yesterday with the closing ceremony.

Isolation impacts one’s health and well-being. For many persons with disabilities and seniors, being “shut in” (sadly, still the preferred reference point for congregations) is more than just loneliness it is the bearing being apart from others and one’s community has upon an individual. Barbara Streisand aside, it’s not just the lucky ones who need people --- we all need each other.

In AVATAR instead of saying, “I love you,” they said, “I see you.” How perfect. I see you as a unique individual. I acknowledge your self-worth. You are not to be easily labeled or categorized or institutionalized. You are. You matter. I see you.

Imagine the impact if we unplugged, moved our eyes from whatever mobile devices and actually made eye contact, acknowledged one another --- each one --- everyone --- all the others.

When I worked in Washington, DC I was in a ministry group that took on as our action being in ministry with persons who are homeless. (NOTE: For every group, please use person first knowledge. One is more than one’s housing situation or bank account or ability….thanks, mini sermonette concluded). As we got to know Jay and Jonathan and Daniel they said the toughest thing for them was when persons would cross by on the other side of the street or look away or fail to simply acknowledge…to see them as a person.

It’s true we all need folks in our corners and our own support network who cheer for us and chant our names, yet, before that we each need to be seen and acknowledged as an important part of our shared community.

Who did you see today?
sj;

Equal to the Apostles

Are you planning to celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary Magdelene today, 22 July? To the left of this post, the icon by Robert Lentz features Mary holding an egg. Legend has it that when Mary went to Rome to preach the Resurrection to the Emperor of Rome, he was more than dubious. Pointing to a basket of eggs he exclaimed that he'd no more believe in the resurrection of Jesus than he would that the eggs were red not white. At that point, Mary picked up an egg and it turned bright red.

Long after Anne Bancroft portrayed Mary Magdalene in the annually aired t.v. special, "Jesus of Nazareth," I, a woman answering the call to ordained ministry, took Mary Magdalene as my personal saint to kick some ecclesiastical keester!

As a kid, I remember sitting in church while my mother preached the sermon. Yes, at the traditional 11 am service. Yes, from the pulpit. And, yes, very well, thank you. What was shocking to me was not that my mother preached. I was shocked by the reaction of Mr. Myers, the kindly, older gentleman who shared our pew and every week provided me with peppermint patties and spearmint gummy candies. Upon witnessing my mother deliver the sermon, he with much disdain and disgust exclaimed, "a woman ought to keep quiet in church!" So much for my Sunday morning "Sugar Daddy."

I've been ordained 23 years in the United Methodist tradition and....sigh...have my own stories to tell. Members from one congregation called the District Superintendent (my boss so to speak) and said that I was re-writing scripture. Why such an accusation? Because the previous Sunday while preaching from the text where Jesus calls his disciples to go and fish for disciples I read "Jesus called them to fish for men and women." GASP! In previous centuries, the disillusioned and much a-feared congregants probably would have fetched wood and kerosene as well.

I remember getting into a bit of a tiff with the senior pastor of my first appointment when during rehearsals for the youth-lead Easter pageant (which I was directing), he showed up at rehearsal and told the young teen playing Mary Magdalene that "Oooh! Watch out! You're playing a prostitute!" Now, pause for a moment to unpack how incredibly inappropriate his comments were on literally every level. Of course, I jumped in with a loud (shocked?) diatribe on how scripture never says Mary Magdalene was a prostitute and that fasle view is derived from male-dominated, chauvenistic, fearful influences in the church that wanted to try and keep women silent and stupid. It's hard to know how to be helpful and educational at times.

On this Feast Day for Saint Mary Magdalene celebrate by proclaiming what you know to be true no matter who tries to silence you.

Raise a glass to all the strong women who have nurtured and continue to shape you with their grace and courage.

Be bold. Be Beautiful.

sj;