Pastor Dave's Blog

Lift as you climb

Someone was remarked, "There sure are a lot of links in your blog posts, Pastor Dave."

Yep. Often those links offer a way to further explore an organization, an event, etc. Sometimes the link is to encourage you to read a full statement or article. And then other times the link is to amplify someone's voice, especially when that someone is not as likely to gain as wide an audience as a straight, cisgendered, white, Christian man (like me). I need to do more of that.

Today, it's all of the above plus and opportunity to brag (with permission) about a member of our faith community who grew up in our children and youth ministries. (We need to do more of this kind of amplifying as well.)

This week, Marisa McGinty got a piece she wrote published on the website The Mighty. We all should read it...and keep reading it until all our neighbors experiencing mental illness are treated just like our neighbors experiencing physical illness. Both need treatment and support. 

Here's how Marisa introduced her article on social media:

"I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and a mood disorder for many years and I have always turned to writing to express my thoughts. I am honored to have one of pieces published on The Mighty and would love to share it with all of you. It is important to know no matter what you might be struggling with, you are never alone."

Here's a taste:

Starting a new school, or even a new school year, is a challenge for anyone, but living with a mental illness can make this change even more difficult. Even waking up to go to school every day is a huge challenge, and then the school work and social interactions that come with it. It’s common to feel like you are going through the motions and no one sees you struggling or cares enough to pay attention.

Please read the whole thing. And then find a way to reach out to someone in your circle of influence who is struggling and let them know they are not alone. 

Will we be peacemakers?

Merely one week ago, the General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church (the justice arm of the UMC) sent a passionate note in response to recent hate crimes like the anti-Semitic murders in Pittsburgh and the anti-black murders in Kentucky, plus multiple other recent instances of violence and hate. In that note, Church & Society's General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, used a line from A Tale of Two Cities (one of my favorite books) to try to find a way forward: "recalled to life."

A Tale of Two Cities ends as a story of resurrection with the main characters, Dr. Manette, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, being “recalled to life.”

 

Resurrection, in Dickens, demonstrates that the spiritual lives of all people depend upon the hope of being born anew, recalled to life.

We must soberly ask, in the light of the chaos and violence around us, what does it mean for us to be recalled to life?

Read the whole note here.

Now, today, that note is tragically out of date with yet another mass shooting Wednesday night. As Church & Society wrote this time: 

"Like me, you might have felt a familiar sense of disbelief, sorrow and dread as the reality began to sink in... senseless violence, terror, tragedy, death and profound loss of life have cut yet another community. Jesus calls us to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), yet it often feels like there is not much we can do. How can we make peace when violence intrudes on our daily reality?"

Adding to all this violence and hatred, locally, more than 56,000 people spread over Cook, Will, and DuPage counties voted for an actual freaking Nazi for U.S. Representative. That includes 11,576 people from Will County and 176 from DuPage County.

It is enough to make one scream, shout, and lament: What can we do?!

Here's something we can do: attend a vigil to end gun violence. The closest one scheduled so far is at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Joliet on December 14th at 6:30pm. 

Jesus calls us to be peacemakers. But that doesn't mean to be doormats. The section of scripture that verse comes from (Matthew 5-7) we usually call The Sermon on the Mount. It is full of creative non-violent responses to violent oppression.

That's what true peacemaking is: creative non-violent responses to violence. 

So let's plan to go to that vigil. 

But let's not stop there. We're better together, so let's crowd source this: What else do you want to help WUMC do to work to end gun violence and hatred in our communities, in our nation, and in our world? Leave a comment below or email me.