I’ve put off writing for so long because there seems to be, at the same time, so much to say and yet I feel that my voice is too general, small and frankly generic to say it. I need to get over that. My voice is the voice God gives me, and is utterly unique as a result, despite the various “samenesses” of my circumstances: older white guy, middle class, white-bread-and-mayo Midwestern upbringing, etc. etc. etc…..

So many things I read and am exposed to everyday (or avoid, if the newscycle is particularly rabid that day…) allow for a cogent thought or Point Of View to arise, but my inherent lethargy and laziness keep me from putting “pen to paper”, so to speak.

Hence this page/post…

I am mystified by the the relationship between the grace of God and the suffering that we all experience to one degree or another…some overwhelmingly so.

I am mystified by the ongoing lust of so many of us for power and control in this world while simultaneously proclaiming to be filled by the love of God and the life of Christ.

I am mystified and saddened by the difficulties we have as a people in seeing ourselves in each other, which should allow humility and forgiveness to arise in each of us, but instead seems to increase fear and anger, building further walls and creating an atmosphere of darkness between and amongst us.

I am mystified and saddening by the coarse and angry “default” communications we have adopted towards others, and, frankly, within ourselves. I am reminded of an interview I heard on a podcast in which the host (she is a pastor) shared that she asked the members of her community to take a sticky note and write down the most consistent admonition each person told to themselves. She said that hers was, “I am a horrible, horrible person.” This is not a true reflection of the image of God in which each of us is created, nor of God’s overarching grace and love. If I’m telling something like this to myself, how can I possibly truly love my neighbor? (“For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” – Galatians 5:14 NRSV)

There are a great many other avenues of thought for me now (being retired and COVID-isolated has some upsides in this regard, at least for me….). To the degree that I am able to articulate them and feel they are worth sharing, I will.

Grace and Peace to you all.