It Could Have Been Us . . .

The Daily Show has run a story on the Obamas’ church decision: Obama’s New Church

Honestly? I feel like we dodged a bullet. Many of you know we discussed at length the opportunity to be interviewed on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show.  Thanks to those of you offered your wise (and not so wise) input; in the end we decided it was probably best not to take Mr. Stewart’s kind offer.

Today I am thanking God, as, while I think I can clap a little better than my friend Father Randolph, probably not THAT much better . . . .

What do you think?

Interrupted Service

Last week as we were lined up at the door to The National Cathedral the security people there instructed us to please turn on all our telephones before entering.

 

This is apparently to make sure that what we claim to be cell phones are really cell phones and not some other nefarious gadget.

 

As I handed mine over to the secret service agent I heard the man behind me comment, “Well, this is the first time I have ever been asked to turn my cell phone ON in church!” 

 

A couple of days ago my friend and local fellow pastor Elizabeth Hagan wrote a blog entry about whether or not cell phones should be allowed in church . . . that is, whether they should be welcomed in church. Apparently a church in Atlanta has declared a “cell phone free zone” so worshippers can bring their electronic devices to church.

I’m not too sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I have a very close relationship with my BlackBerry, so I certainly understand the need to feel connected. I also occasionally receive emails or text messages sent DURING worship by worshippers commenting on something they experienced, so I know folks do use electronic devices during worship. (Though I am quite sure NEVER during the sermon.)

On the other hand, this question hits right at one of my sore points: the push to be a “consumer driven” church.  Since when do we have give people what they want to get them to “buy” our product?  Worship is a discipline, an investment . . . not just a convenient show, right?  And, church to me is sanctuary in so many different ways of understanding that word. I need it-a place to run to and rest in, away from the crazy pull of my hectic life. I figure if I need it, other people do, too. And if we encourage people to use their cell phones during worship . . . that might take away from the feeling of sanctuary for everybody else.

So, I, the woman who admittedly was text messaging people all through the inaugural prayer service last week, am of two minds on this issue. What do you think?

Golden Ticket

Thanks to my kind friend Terry Lynch at the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, I had the great opportunity to attend the inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral this morning. 

I can’t really describe the experience . . . it didn’t feel quite like a worship service, as everywhere you turned there was one famous person or another.  The crowd was very small and VIPs all around, but it seemed a fitting recognition, after the craziness of yesterday, that, not only is human power fleeting, but when you’re in charge you need all the help you can get.  And, divine help would be appreciated.  Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, the preacher of the day, did a nice job talking about the two greatest commandments, imploring our leaders to follow the best part of their ethical ideals.

As for me, the words of Psalm 103 kept running through my head . . . for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.  As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.  Leaders of the free world, all around me, and they seemed just as human as everybody else.  Makes me want to pray even harder!

 Here are some pictures and a short video from my adventures at the Cathedral this morning:

And here’s an AP video . . . okay, watch carefully . . . at 8 seconds on the far left . . . I have a purple wrap on . . . oh, you were looking at the president?

Welcome to Washington, President Obama and administration.  We’re praying for you.

What a Day

Some Things I Know

Today somebody challenged my opinion on a controversial issue; strangely, the challenge rocked my world a little.  The experience was all very curious . . . after all, I am one who feels very well at home with all kinds of different opinions floating around; the discomfort of diversity is something I relish.

My very wise spiritual director always tells me to step away and look at things, just to sit with the uneasiness for awhile and see where it takes me. It’s been about 24 hours now, and I’m feeling more peaceful. One thing that helped was a list, a list of things I know.

At least I think I know.

For now, anyway.

I know I am not always right.  Hmmmmm, I also know I am not always wrong.  But then, I know, too, that the question of whether one is right or wrong is usually not the most important question after all.  I know for sure that God’s love is more expansive than I thought yesterday and probably than I will think tomorrow. I know God’s call to faith in Jesus Christ always pushes me to consider a perspective I never considered before. I know what God looks like by looking at my community. I know words that hurt people are not okay, and I know by now that you should never hang your hat on gross generalizations. I know God’s Spirit can never be contained. I know love is here-I can feel it all around me. I know Gospel makes people nervous. I know that God loves me patiently through the times I think I have it all figured out. I know that love is always the best response to hatred and bigotry. I know for sure that God loves you. I know that challenging what you’ve always believed can make you feel really unsettled, angry, defensive. I know when I feel that way I should pay very close attention because somewhere there’s an opportunity to learn something. I know that not everybody shares that opinion. I know God doesn’t fit in my box. I know that change happens through the work of God’s Spirit. I know God will never leave me alone.

Most of all I know that I don’t know everything . . . but I do know a little more than I knew back when I thought I knew everything.

What do you know?

My Do Ate My Keyboard

My do  ate my keyboard.

I’m not kiddin .

I always thou ht that was kind o  a  i ure o  speech, not an actual occurrence.  But, alas, I  ot up  rom the couch to answer a telephone call and when I returned two letters on my keyboard-two letters ri ht in the middle o  my keyboard, no less, have been . . . well, chewed o  .

As my dissertation is due in approximately 15 days, this turn o  events is not makin  me  eel overly a  ectionate toward said do . It will only  et worse, let me tell you, when I have to  o in and explain to the church administrator why the extra warranty on this computer has, yet a ain, come in handy.

Si h.

Preparing for Adolesence

Can you?  I remember that you really can’t when you’re 13, but I’m talking here about the parent side of things.

So far I’ve been crossing my fingers and kind of watching helplessly as it all unfolds around me, but I realized the other day that I keep waiting for some terrible other shoe to drop.

Of course I recognize that much of that perspective comes from the memory of the avocado green copies of Preparing for Adolescence and its accompanying workbook that my mother solemnly handed to me on my 13th birthday (please be sure to note I am not recommending or endorsing this resource–still recovering myself).  My mom seemed so sad-it was almost like I had contracted a horrible disease, which might not be contagious but at the very least was deeply distasteful to all around me.

So I was just realizing with surprise that we are almost three years into adolescence around here . . . and it’s actually okay. In fact, most days it’s going pretty well. You know, there’s the normal amount of eye rolling and deep, despairing sighs, but . . . well . . . I like my adolescents. I really like them like this. All of the sudden they can carry on spirited conversations; they have their own opinions (though often flawed). Each one has interests and gifts, tendencies and interesting quirks. I can see, more and more these days, little glimpses of who they will become as adults.  And, I think I might like them, too.

These thoughts coalesced a little today when my 11-going-on-25 year old daughter brought up a friend who mentioned off-hand that it had been since her 18-year-old daughter turned 11 that she had said more than one word even vaguely directed in the general vicinity of her mother. My Hannah said she thought that was really weird-why would you not talk to your mom for SEVEN WHOLE YEARS?

I patiently explained: (with the not insignificant credibility of experience backing me up) sometimes when you enter this stage we call adolescence, you think your parents are, well, lame. You know, dorks.

Hannah responded with confusion: “Yeah, and . . . ?”

Well, I continued, if you think your parent is a dork, you might not talk to them.

“Oh, I DEFINITELY think you’re a dork,” she countered. “I mean, when we go to the mall and you start dancing to the music while we’re walking? That’s SO EMBARRASSING. I always hope none of my friends are there, and I walk really far ahead of you.  And sometimes you wear the weirdest things, I mean, I try to tell you when you look like a dork but I don’t always get to you in time before you leave in the morning, and I always hope on those days that you’re not picking me up from school . . . . . . . . . . . . buuuuuuut . . . just because you’re definitely, like, dorky doesn’t mean I wouldn’t talk to you!”

Awwww, sweet girl.

Long Pause. 

“Of course, I can’t keep quiet for very long no matter who I’m around . . . so maybe I’ll just talk to anyone.”

Nope, I’m pretty sure there’s no way to prepare.

Love

I don’t know what else to call this post. 

Taken on Christmas Eve at our worship service, this picture of Calvary members depicting the nativity is everything I love about Calvary Baptist Church.  In this place everybody’s differences are what, together, make the most beautiful expressions of God’s great love for the world.

Thanks, my Calvary family, for always reminding me.