When we are cowards we turn to find those against whom we may rise and we call them out and attempt to throw upon them the blame for all that is able to frighten us. In light of yet another shooting spree at a high school this week, have you noticed how some have raised up - once again - those who suffer from mental illness? If we do not lean in and listen closely, it almost sounds as though - people in positions of power - legislative positions -positions from which a more peaceable and nonviolent society is to be constructed - might be advocating for those who have mental illness. Be not fooled.
The ones in power need to stay in power. They need to be able to make the world go as the powers around them want the world to go. Therefore, there will be no talk that will put the powers-that-be in a light that might be negative - that might cause the crowds to turn against the powers. Instead, those in power point to ones on whom it is easy to draw a target. That is how those filled with power work - all of us. We have seen and heard people of color blamed and targeted. We have seen people of certain ethnic backgrounds (changing from generation to generation) blamed and targeted. We have seen religious folks blamed and targeted. As is usually the case, the targeting comes as a mere suggestion like: some say or I've been told. From a simple suggestion comes a message that begins to sound convincing to some and then to more and more. The fragile state of the majority must work endlessly to keep the world as they want it - even when it demands that there must be some sort of sacrifice for the existing powers to continue their influence and rule. The sacrifice is always those considered easy targets. Targets are easy to draw - it takes little energy - but the results are well known. The powerful begin to shoot them down - sacrifice them - single them out - push them to the edge - mark them. Oh my, how power convinces us how important it is to mark those people.
It is so damn easy to mark and shoot and then whip up the crowd. Under the guise of a concern for those who suffer from mental illness are we really turning to reach out and stand with and alongside them? I think not - though - through proper branding and good packaging, it may look like that. I would propose that the powers-that-be (Rep and Dem and President) are afraid to do anything but point fingers at those who suffer from mental illness. And yes, many shooters are sufferers of such a wide spread diagnosis - but most, by far, most of those who suffer from mental illness are as close as family, neighbors, loved ones of all types.
My mother often talked to me about her depression. It wasn't situational. It was systemic. It was a part of her - a part as real as her wrinkles and her hugs and her kisses. Medication helped to bring lows up to a smooth surface. Her lows - her depression was like mine - a rolling melancholy. We could laugh and cry at the similarity. I often say my depression comes on quickly and turns me into an overripe tomato - a mere touch, of any kind, would unleash tears or anger or deep silence. Most everyone doesn't know this about me. I also had a sister-in-law who suffered from mental illness. I did not have the opportunity to know her outside of the grasp of that disease - but I was able to see times of beauty and gentleness and kindness and love for others. And yet, without medication, the disease took her away from all who loved her for who she was - a wounded and beloved woman.
Folks will argue that we do not have a problem with guns - our problem is with people - people who suffer from mental illness and have guns. So, those who already live with the stigma of mental illness are now cast down into a more public and a much deeper hole. Why? Well, we need to make a target of that which is not really the problem among us. Even if we now begin to spend money to help those who suffer from mental illness (which is unlikely because it involves health and not weapons), I would suggest it is one nice way to divert attention from the violence among us that is ruled by our fear and our cowardice to face our fears. Instead of a vicious lynch mob, calling for the death of those people - we have become quite proficient at shaping a mob that wears the mask of benevolence and care.
We need not turn more and more people into victims by our branding. We need to turn and look at ourselves - our fears - our weaknesses - our frailties - our vulnerabilities - our ease to hate and harm and harbor violence within us. That may lead us to another pathway - one in which my life is worth no more than your life and together we can move closer to others around us and discover their worth. Then, we may work together to take away the rule of violence that we too often use to govern us and discover how we begin to take care of the other - no matter what the expense. We know how to spend money to put an end to others. It would be an amazing move to discover how to use our wealth to build a national character that offers a beginning to others. But, I know that frightens us when we think we will not be able to be the gods of our own lives. Fear not - love one another.
TRRR
Friday, February 16, 2018
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
What marks your life - What is the Way that marks you
Well it is Ash Wednesday. So I was wondering how many ash-wearing Christians will walk around town still set on trashing and ridiculing and persecuting hijab-wearing, praying-five-times-a-day Muslims - for displaying their faithfulness. Or do we Christians remember that the cross - yes, the one smudged on foreheads this day - reminds us of the life we are called to live - a life that has a history of being contrary to the rule of law and the rule of the land. The empire still rules and the way of the cross still is meant to lead us to another way of being humanity - together as one - one no matter how we differ.
I must say that the above bit of an introduction is really meant to move me on to other images of Ash Wednesday. It is new among some Christian communities that a person can simply drive-by or drive-through an Ash dispensing station at a local congregation - for we are so busy to hear the story and gather with others and take part in the meal that defines for us the life that is possible as we face the ashes of lives every day. We are the ones who are also the people who wear the cross as jewelry or a tattoo or trace it on our body before stepping up to bat or after we have had a hell of a good run or tossed and inspired touchdown pass. Could we be taking another step toward a more consumer-friendly portrayal of a life that - in its attempts to be made acceptable - has lost its Way? Have you noticed that there is more interest among Christians in making sure we say God blessing America or put prayer in schools or keeping fear-based additions in the Pledge of Allegiance than having us take sides with the victims of the systems that are all around us. The machinery of the culture makes fools of all of us. I find that painful and also the inspiration to remember throughout the day these piercing words: Get behind me satan.
What were the ashes of Jesus' day? Hmmm.
The burning of animals in the Temple? The trashing of the ones upon whom the religious ones of the day determined were dirty - sinners - ones to be left out and reduced to nothing. I suppose we could say that - to a point. The religious system was as much a power of constructing a biased culture as was the empire. The culture had ways of trashing and torching anything that was not in line with the contrived peace of the day. Both - religion and culture - we might be able to say, build themselves up on the ashes they produce.
BUT, I would suggest that the ashes of Jesus' day was the movement - the actions - the unbounded compassion - the self-sacrifice that did not go along with how power is so willing to dispose of people. Ashes have a walk - a talk - a touch - a song - a dance - that brings liberation to those bound up and hope to those who are about to put an end to their day and food to those whose hunger devastates generations and justice to those who are trampled by the fears of the powerful and privileged.
When one lives within the breath of such a life - the Spirit of such a life - the Reign of God at hand kind of life, there will be ashes. The followers of Jesus may get burned - by the religious and imperial powers of today. The followers of Jesus may also find that as we face the ashes of our lives, we may become for others - the inspiration for the Way of life we say we follow. This is not a convenient life. Although, I suppose, it is utterly convenient because each moment becomes an opportunity to act in the name of the Christ. Though I would post a warning that this kind of moment to moment convenience to enter into and walk within the Reign of God is full of moment to moment consequences. If you want to see an example of this, read the opening chapters of Marks gospel. Notice how things are done immediately - one right after the other - every day - every movement that is conveniently in front of Jesus is taken up and he has to deal with the crap that is thrown at him by all the good folks - even to the point that they determine they must stop him - make ashes of him.
To conclude, you must know that this rant comes from someone who has always seen himself as a coward - on so many levels. That is because it is real. And yet, the fire that threatens to burn us will not consume us - be not afraid. I have to wrestle with ashes and dust and the reality that it doesn't matter if my life gets blown away like ashes and dust - yet, fear still abounds. Therefore, I need you to live out in front of me showing me how to be truly human - in the image of God - that no fire can destroy. When we think we can drive by or drive through the way ashes mark our lives, we fool ourselves again. That seems to be part of our history. If you 'do ashes' this year, go and hear the story - eat the Meal - sit and sing with the other pile of ashes around you. If you cannot, mark your life with ashes.
TRRR
I must say that the above bit of an introduction is really meant to move me on to other images of Ash Wednesday. It is new among some Christian communities that a person can simply drive-by or drive-through an Ash dispensing station at a local congregation - for we are so busy to hear the story and gather with others and take part in the meal that defines for us the life that is possible as we face the ashes of lives every day. We are the ones who are also the people who wear the cross as jewelry or a tattoo or trace it on our body before stepping up to bat or after we have had a hell of a good run or tossed and inspired touchdown pass. Could we be taking another step toward a more consumer-friendly portrayal of a life that - in its attempts to be made acceptable - has lost its Way? Have you noticed that there is more interest among Christians in making sure we say God blessing America or put prayer in schools or keeping fear-based additions in the Pledge of Allegiance than having us take sides with the victims of the systems that are all around us. The machinery of the culture makes fools of all of us. I find that painful and also the inspiration to remember throughout the day these piercing words: Get behind me satan.
What were the ashes of Jesus' day? Hmmm.
The burning of animals in the Temple? The trashing of the ones upon whom the religious ones of the day determined were dirty - sinners - ones to be left out and reduced to nothing. I suppose we could say that - to a point. The religious system was as much a power of constructing a biased culture as was the empire. The culture had ways of trashing and torching anything that was not in line with the contrived peace of the day. Both - religion and culture - we might be able to say, build themselves up on the ashes they produce.
BUT, I would suggest that the ashes of Jesus' day was the movement - the actions - the unbounded compassion - the self-sacrifice that did not go along with how power is so willing to dispose of people. Ashes have a walk - a talk - a touch - a song - a dance - that brings liberation to those bound up and hope to those who are about to put an end to their day and food to those whose hunger devastates generations and justice to those who are trampled by the fears of the powerful and privileged.
When one lives within the breath of such a life - the Spirit of such a life - the Reign of God at hand kind of life, there will be ashes. The followers of Jesus may get burned - by the religious and imperial powers of today. The followers of Jesus may also find that as we face the ashes of our lives, we may become for others - the inspiration for the Way of life we say we follow. This is not a convenient life. Although, I suppose, it is utterly convenient because each moment becomes an opportunity to act in the name of the Christ. Though I would post a warning that this kind of moment to moment convenience to enter into and walk within the Reign of God is full of moment to moment consequences. If you want to see an example of this, read the opening chapters of Marks gospel. Notice how things are done immediately - one right after the other - every day - every movement that is conveniently in front of Jesus is taken up and he has to deal with the crap that is thrown at him by all the good folks - even to the point that they determine they must stop him - make ashes of him.
To conclude, you must know that this rant comes from someone who has always seen himself as a coward - on so many levels. That is because it is real. And yet, the fire that threatens to burn us will not consume us - be not afraid. I have to wrestle with ashes and dust and the reality that it doesn't matter if my life gets blown away like ashes and dust - yet, fear still abounds. Therefore, I need you to live out in front of me showing me how to be truly human - in the image of God - that no fire can destroy. When we think we can drive by or drive through the way ashes mark our lives, we fool ourselves again. That seems to be part of our history. If you 'do ashes' this year, go and hear the story - eat the Meal - sit and sing with the other pile of ashes around you. If you cannot, mark your life with ashes.
TRRR
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Where are your most beloved orange barrels?
So today I was going to rant about Deplorables - Deportables - Disposables - Despicables - Dreamers. But then I realized I can add nothing to the discussion right now without becoming upset - negative - accusatory - condemning - biting - bitching...
So today I want to offer praise and thanksgiving - for orange traffic barrels. This all came to mind this week as I was driving a civil engineer to an office party. I have always taken an interest in traffic patterns - freeway construction and planning. I'm not a nut about the big equipment that is used to move and reshape the earth. Instead, I am fascinated at how it all gets done - how in the middle of the utter chaos - there is transformation. More importantly, things are done safely.
In our discussion of roadway transformation, I told the young engineer that I used the image of orange barrels to teach 7th and 8th graders about the law. The Law - as in the Ten Commandments. But also, the law as in the laws that attempt to keep us up and operating as a society. One of my main points of focus was the simple commitment to make sure that each person who must move through a road project or must work within one - gets home safely. The need to respect and honor the well being of the other is huge. Orange barrels are like laws that are meant to secure the well being of all. They are a nonviolent system that counts on a common respect for neighbors and not just ourselves. I find that they are in place under the assumption that all are worth an ounce of safety. I have never seen an orange barrel strike out at a car or truck. They stand posted and in place and - at time - get trampled under the wheels of folks like you and me who somehow find our need to move along the way as a reason to subject the barrels and other drivers to our whim and wants.
I used the orange barrels to try and explain the simultaneous notion of you shall not and you shall. Orange barrels draw us a map - a picture. In that setting, we are being instructed that we shall follow the pathway the orange barrels open up for us. At the same time, it is quite obvious that there are ways we shall not take our cars. In the case of the command to not steal there is also the expectation that we look after the goods of our neighbor. The result - a safer community - a respect for our neighbor - order - even an awareness of what we each have and that we do ourselves no good if we covet the stuff of others. Protect it all.
In many ways, the orange barrels are enough to make for a safe passage. I would even say they welcome the stranger and they create an atmosphere of hospitality so that all of us can be put on an even plain as we move through the transformations of life that always seem to be taking place. Yet, many folks - like me, when I want the world to go my way and the asshole ahead of me is not moving as I desire things to go - are so self-consumed and self-focused, the orange barrels are a pain and a reason to bitch and complain and even turn against a neighbor. In those moments, the orange barrels don't move - they don't strike out - they don't move to give me more space than you might have - they don't show any sort of favoritism. They simply keep the path clear - they keep you as safe as me - even if I think I deserve to be given a better way than you. Orange barrels don't scapegoat - they remind us to honor all others.
The orange barrels - the law - are meant to nurture an atmosphere of care for the other and oneself. The law is not - in the first place - meant to punish. Though that is how we like to use it. I find that orange barrels put us all on a common level. If we are able to see the other as one deserving care and protection and the freedom to be who they are - and that is a foundational aspect of our society - we may be involved in building a peaceable society. Oh, that will be a pain in the neck at times - it will cause me to be late sometimes - it may force me to go a route I would usually not take, in order to complete today's journey. Though when the day is over, we all may end up at home with a greater appreciation for graciousness and kindness and self-sacrifice.
I need to be more aware of those around me. I don't need them to move as I move. I don't need them to choose the path I am going. I need to see them - know that they are not like me - see in them the worth they have. And then, though we are different and do not know one another and we may think those others come from the wrong side of town or belong to that group, we are able to build a road into a future that will be transformed for the well-being of all.
TRRR
So today I want to offer praise and thanksgiving - for orange traffic barrels. This all came to mind this week as I was driving a civil engineer to an office party. I have always taken an interest in traffic patterns - freeway construction and planning. I'm not a nut about the big equipment that is used to move and reshape the earth. Instead, I am fascinated at how it all gets done - how in the middle of the utter chaos - there is transformation. More importantly, things are done safely.
In our discussion of roadway transformation, I told the young engineer that I used the image of orange barrels to teach 7th and 8th graders about the law. The Law - as in the Ten Commandments. But also, the law as in the laws that attempt to keep us up and operating as a society. One of my main points of focus was the simple commitment to make sure that each person who must move through a road project or must work within one - gets home safely. The need to respect and honor the well being of the other is huge. Orange barrels are like laws that are meant to secure the well being of all. They are a nonviolent system that counts on a common respect for neighbors and not just ourselves. I find that they are in place under the assumption that all are worth an ounce of safety. I have never seen an orange barrel strike out at a car or truck. They stand posted and in place and - at time - get trampled under the wheels of folks like you and me who somehow find our need to move along the way as a reason to subject the barrels and other drivers to our whim and wants.
I used the orange barrels to try and explain the simultaneous notion of you shall not and you shall. Orange barrels draw us a map - a picture. In that setting, we are being instructed that we shall follow the pathway the orange barrels open up for us. At the same time, it is quite obvious that there are ways we shall not take our cars. In the case of the command to not steal there is also the expectation that we look after the goods of our neighbor. The result - a safer community - a respect for our neighbor - order - even an awareness of what we each have and that we do ourselves no good if we covet the stuff of others. Protect it all.
In many ways, the orange barrels are enough to make for a safe passage. I would even say they welcome the stranger and they create an atmosphere of hospitality so that all of us can be put on an even plain as we move through the transformations of life that always seem to be taking place. Yet, many folks - like me, when I want the world to go my way and the asshole ahead of me is not moving as I desire things to go - are so self-consumed and self-focused, the orange barrels are a pain and a reason to bitch and complain and even turn against a neighbor. In those moments, the orange barrels don't move - they don't strike out - they don't move to give me more space than you might have - they don't show any sort of favoritism. They simply keep the path clear - they keep you as safe as me - even if I think I deserve to be given a better way than you. Orange barrels don't scapegoat - they remind us to honor all others.
The orange barrels - the law - are meant to nurture an atmosphere of care for the other and oneself. The law is not - in the first place - meant to punish. Though that is how we like to use it. I find that orange barrels put us all on a common level. If we are able to see the other as one deserving care and protection and the freedom to be who they are - and that is a foundational aspect of our society - we may be involved in building a peaceable society. Oh, that will be a pain in the neck at times - it will cause me to be late sometimes - it may force me to go a route I would usually not take, in order to complete today's journey. Though when the day is over, we all may end up at home with a greater appreciation for graciousness and kindness and self-sacrifice.
I need to be more aware of those around me. I don't need them to move as I move. I don't need them to choose the path I am going. I need to see them - know that they are not like me - see in them the worth they have. And then, though we are different and do not know one another and we may think those others come from the wrong side of town or belong to that group, we are able to build a road into a future that will be transformed for the well-being of all.
TRRR
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