My Kingdom for a Moderate

My two cents on politics of today:

Both sides are continuously screaming their opinion at the tops of their lungs.  Neither side even takes a short breath long enough to hear what the other side is saying.  I don’t think they care anymore.  They don’t want to know the other person’s view point.  It is like children sticking their fingers in their ears and saying “La, la, la, la, la… I can’t hear you.”

The result is that both parties are being pushed further to the Right/Left.  The farther the distance between them, the less likely they are to have to see or hear “the enemy.”

I remember a time when we weren’t enemies.  We had political differences that we could discuss civilly.  Compromises were common. 

As the country gets polarized we keep electing people farther and farther off the radical deep end on both the right and the left.  People complain that the politicians on the other side are horrible and criminal…  You know what?  If you only look for people on the crazy end of the spectrum that is what you are going to get!  Yes, people on both sides have committed horrible crimes and no one in their respective party cares.  “I actually heard someone say, “Well, yes, he is horrible.  Yes, he has done some things that were wrong.  But he is so much better than having a(insert the opposite party here) in office.”  We should be appalled at the monsters that we have elected ON BOTH SIDES.

Friends and family (on both sides) that I know are good and kind people are saying horrible things, and posting even worse propaganda.  I feel like I am trapped between the Nazis from WWII and the USSR from the Cold War Era with them both blaring their manifests loud enough that surely the people can’t hear their opponents.  Where is Indiana Jones when we need him.

The really sad thing is that when Facebook shares a memory from 2, 4. 5. Even 7 or more years ago where I am complaining about the same thing.

Mom’s pastor  from Houston is part of a group seeking Civility in Government.  It is frightening that we need such a thing.  It is even more frightening that no one hears about them.

It makes me want to scream, “MY KINGDOM FOR A MODERATE!”  any moderate… at this point I don’t care if they are Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent…  We need to elect people who are willing to talk, listen, and try to work together.  In the past few years I back the moderates and they would come in dead last.  People aren’t looking for someone who will try to understand and work together.  This last primary I couldn’t find any moderates!  Everyone wanted to prove how far off the deep end that they were.  “I’m the craziest of the crazys!  So, vote for me.”  I swear I thought some of the actual political adds were Saturday Night Live skits making fun of them

If it weren’t for my faith I would completely despair for our nation.  I pray that we will wake up.  I pray that we will remember that these are not only fellow Americans, but also our brothers and sisters in Christ.  I pray that we will find our sense of compassion and compromise again.  We need to go back to what we learned from Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers.  Being Kind is more important than being right.  Sharing and Caring are the way we should live.

Basically, we need Divine Intervention.  So, I pray, “God change our hearts!  Break our hearts of stone!  Fill us with your love again.”

As I try not to unfriend those near and dear to my heart, I also pray that I can be an example of the kind of acceptance and love that we need.  And hope that I do not become the last Moderate on earth.

Love in Christ,

An Endangered Species

To Boldly Go

Geeks of Faith Devotion – To Boldly Go

          Saturday was the 52^nd anniversary of the premier of Star Trek.  That show completely changed how we thought about Science Fiction.  Some Christians didn’t think that we should be thinking about boldly going where no one has gone before.  I have had arguments with well meaning Sunday School teachers or cousins saying that Humanity is the pinnacle of God’s creation.  Thinking that there is life on other planets is sinful.  I have always thought that opinion was crazy.

          If God created Billions and Billions of stars with billions of planets around them, wouldn’t it be silly for God to make them all just dead rocks?  If there are billions of species here on Earth alone, how much more would there be throughout the universe.

          I don’t think it is “sinful” to dream of boldly going and searching for life among the stars.  I think it is far more sinful to try to limit God’s creativity to one small planet in one small solar system.

          People say that it is a miracle that all the conditions were right here for life to begin at all.  That is amazing!  But wouldn’t it prove God is even greater if somewhere out there there were Vulcans, and Wookies, and Mimbari… and of course PORG!  The larger our knowledge of the universe becomes, the greater God becomes for me.  I think the real miracle is that God cares about us puny humans on this little ball of water.

          Listen to the words of Psalm 8:  O Lord, our Sovereign,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
²     Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
    to silence the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars that you have established;
⁴ what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
    mortals^[a] that you care for them?

⁵ Yet you have made them a little lower than God,^[b]
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
⁶ You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under their feet,
⁷ all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
⁸ the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Sovereign,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

          It is a miracle that God knows each of us by name.  Each hair on our head is numbered.  We are beloved children.  If God loves us that much, it doesn’t mean God can’t love some other creatures somewhere out there, where no human has gone before.  I only have two children, not billions, but when Alexander was born that didn’t mean I loved Martin any less.  God’s love is big enough to love all of creation, even if that means loving Klingons too.

Would Jesus Go to Dragon Con?

As I get ready to head off to Dragon Con I have been reading the posts on the Dragon Con Facebook page.  There were several posts about the people with megaphones yelling at you to repent or go to hell.  There was also a post about conservative relatives believing that it is “Satan Con”.  That made me very sad.

            I don’t believe that either of those groups really represent what Jesus would want or do.  First, the only people that Jesus got really mad at were the Pharisees, because they judged others and heaped extra rules that no one could follow onto the people.  Jesus didn’t come for the ultra-religious judgmental people.  Jesus came for the sinners and the outcasts.  Jesus came for everyday people.

            Their biggest argument is that Dragon Con is just a big party.  Everyone is drinking and partying all weekend… Ummm they must have missed John Chapter 2.  Jesus went to a wedding in Cana.  He had started calling disciples but hadn’t really started teaching and hadn’t done any miracles yet.  Now a Jewish wedding lasted 3 or 4 days!  It was feasting, dancing, and drinking.  It was a multi-day party.  Jesus, his family and the disciples all were there.  It was a BAD thing for one of these parties to run out of wine.  It would be mortifying for the couple.  Jesus’ friends ran out of wine.  So, what is Jesus’ first miracle?  It isn’t healing or raising someone from the dead.  Jesus made 20 to 30 gallons of wine.  You heard me, twenty to thirty GALLONS so that the party could go on.  Jesus wouldn’t bat an eye at a four to five day party.

            Jesus was always talking to crowds of excited people.  They would travel for miles and wait in the hot sun just to hear him.  Thousands of people would gather.  I think Jesus would fit right in at Dragon Con.  Except that he would never make you empty the room so they could get ready for the next panel.  He would just miraculously make it so that everyone who wanted to come hear him would fit in the room.  If he went too long so that the food court was closed, he would multiply con snacks that we were carrying, and everyone would eat their fill.  OK, I may be getting a bit silly with this one…

            But I believe that not only would come to Dragon Con.  I believe he does… And I am not talking about the awesome Jesus Cosplay that I saw last year.  Since Jesus went back into heaven, we are called to be his body.  We are his hands and feet here on earth.  So, when Geeks of Faith gather at Dragon Con, Jesus is there.

            So, when that person threw a chair off the balcony hitting an innocent young woman, Jesus was there in the concern showed to her by her fellow con goers.  It was shown in the care of the paramedics and hospital staff.  Jesus was there in how everyone rallied around her.  Some of us prayed for her well-being.

            So, this Dragon Con there is one way to be sure that Jesus is there.  Be his hands and feet.  Say a kind word to the tired volunteer trying to make the lines go smoothly.  Hold the door for the person in the heavy costume.  Let the person in the wheelchair have your spot in the elevator.  Ask someone to share your table in the food court.  Be kind, compassionate, patient, accepting, and show unconditional love to your fellow human beings next weekend.

            Oh, and there is no need to yell at the misguided people with their signs and megaphones.  I feel sorry for them, because they totally missed what Jesus was trying to do here on earth.  Our kindness and gentleness may even help them see Jesus next weekend!  See you there!

The Need for a Support System

A dear friend who is a Chaplain and PTSD Advocate asked me to  record a video to uplift, and encourage veterans.  The series uses driving a car as the analogy.   Here is what I came up with:

Tires – A Car’s Support System

A car needs four tires.  If one gets flat or is removed, then the car can’t go.  One tire by itself can be OK as a swing or something, but it won’t get you anywhere…  OK, so I am NOT a mechanic.  I know that, so I am smart enough to know when the car is having problems that I need to take it to someone who knows what they are doing.  When our spiritual life is out of whack, we need to do that, too.  If my car analogy is a bit of a stretch forgive me, my area is spiritual.

In today’s society there is an undercurrent that you must be self-sufficient.  You need to “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.”  Independence is everything.  In fact, in Psychology the notion of being “co-dependent” is supposed to be a really bad thing.  That undercurrent has made many people believe that they have to face their problems on their own and if they don’t then something must be wrong with them.  I believe this goes against the very fiber of our being.  We were created to be in community.

In Genesis 2:18 it says, “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” (NRSV)  Most people interpret this as husband and wife, which is part of it.  The Hebrew is much broader.  The word “man” is Adama, which is the word for humanity.  So, Adam means human.  So, it can be translated, “It is not good for a human being to be alone.”  We were made to be in relationship.  No one can make it entirely on their own.  So, my first tire is find someone to be your “helper.”  You need to find someone who you trust to walk with you through life’s journey; someone who will not abuse or take advantage of your vulnerability.  This person can be a spouse, a best friend, a co-worker, a sibling, but needs to be someone who will always be on your side even when you don’t want to hear it.

The second thing society says is that you don’t need a church…  OK, part of that is because churches are made up of imperfect humans who don’t always do what the church is supposed to do.  But we as human beings need a community to uphold us.  I have found many churches that do love you as you are.  In Paul’s letter to the Galatians he advises, “² Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 NRSV)  The law of Christ is to love one another as Christ loved us.  How we do that is to come along side each other and bear one another’s burdens.  None of us were meant to bear the weight of the world alone!  We were meant to be in community.  So, your second tire is a community to support you.

Now, if you are one of the tires, you may think that you are fine with the first three.  A tricycle is fine, right?  But the forth tire is the most important tire.  The forth tire is God.  When life is hard, and you are hurting is a time that many people turn their backs on God.  “God let this happen to me…” or worse yet, “God did this to me…”  On the opposite side, some people feel broken, dirty, or guilty.  “God wouldn’t want me as I am.”  So, many people try to deal with their brokenness alone.  They can believe that God abandoned them. 

Have you ever read the poem about the footprints in the sand?  The person looks back at two sets of footprints in the sand and notices that at the hardest times of their life there is only one set of footprints.  So, they ask God, why God abandoned them when they were in the most need.  God’s answer, “Where you see only one set of footprints, that is where I carried you.”

The second half of Matthew 28:20 says, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (NRSV) This is the very last thing Jesus says to his disciples before returning to heaven.  When we feel that God isn’t there, it is something wrong with our senses, not an actual lack of God’s presence.

When I was little I had horrible nightmares and night terrors.  My mom found a picture of Jesus holding a little blond child in his lap and hung it over my bed.  She told me that when I woke up from a bad dream and was afraid that I could remember that Jesus was holding me.  I was safe in his arms even if I couldn’t always feel it.

People can let you down.  Even the person you trust the most, that community that you have found to walk beside you, and you are all human.  We will all fail sometimes, but God won’t.  God promises to be with you in good times and bad, joy and suffering.  So, actually, God should be tire number 1, not 4.  If your three other tires go flat, you can depend on God to never let you go it on your own.

That is my best car analogy.  In this life get a good set of tires.  Get a partner and a community to walk with you, but don’t forget to invite God along.

And a link to the video:

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"This is Me"

I have loved musicals since my parents brought me to some anniversary showing of "The Sound of Music" when I was three or four.  I didn't even want to go to the restroom during intermission in case I would miss something.  Musicals like "The Sound of Music" or "The Music Man" were the only exceptions to our "no eating in front of the TV rule."  So, when "The Greatest Showman" came out, I was just as entranced as that three year old me.

Having watched it many times now and played the soundtrack over and over I realized something.  It's not just a musical to me, it is a new anthem.  My story resonated with these characters.  I have always been a Geeky nerd.  I have loved Sci Fi, D&D, and cosplay since I was a kid in the 70s and 80s... long before being a nerd was cool.  I was bullied.  I was teased and made fun of...  I was encouraged to conform, to be more like everyone else.  It would be easier.  It would solve the problems with being an outsider.  Even in the church, well meaning people would suggest that sci fi and D&D would lead me down the wrong road and away from Jesus.  In Seminary my ad visors suggested that I don't mention "certain" hobbies when interviewing at churches, after all, I was going to have enough problems being accepted as a woman pastor.

So, this musical helped me see that my passion over starting Geek Church wasn't just for those friends of mine who were driven out or turned off by the church that didn't understand them.  It was for me, too!  I need to be able to worship as me.  Super Girl is not the costume that hides me from the world, the three piece suit is the real costume.  A Faerie Princess, Superhero or Elf cosplay is more me than the get up I have to wear to Presbytery.  I am more me when I have the temporary pink hair dye and bright blue fingernails then when I wear my power suit.

Jesus accepted people as they were.  He accepted the smelly fishermen, the hated tax collector, the women that society thought were worth nothing, and even Zachaeus the wee little man who climbed a tree to see Jesus.  Jesus accepts as we are; scars, warts, and all.  The guest speaker at Oviedo Pres. last Sunday was brought up in a family that was Hindu, Muslim, and Ba' hai.  He decided that Jesus was the way for him because of the unconditional grace, love, and acceptance that Jesus had for everyone.  God so loved the world, including Geeks, nerds, and shy little girls.

When I have to put on that suit, and pretend I am just an average, normal preacher I now hear,
"I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one'll love you as you are"

That is not what the Gospel teaches.  Jesus loves us just the way we are.  We should be able to find the love and wonder of God discussing the theological implications of Star Wars, or The Avengers, or any number of comic books.  I should be able to worship in my Wonder Woman T-shirts and Harley Quinn dresses, because that is who I am.  Being a Cosplaying Geek doesn't mean that I am not a good Christian, doing the best I can to show Christ's love in this world.  Somehow I hope that once Geek church is up and running that I will proudly wear my Super Girl dress to Presbytery meetings.

For now, I think that the chorus of this is me is the perfect anthem for Geeks everywhere, and especially for Geeks of Faith.

"When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me"

I hope that Geeks of Faith everywhere will find this truth,  Jesus loves our scars and broken parts.  I pray for a church where everyone can stand up and sing God's praises and still be able to sing "This is me!"

Love and Peace,

Karen

Musings on the 50th Anniversary of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

Last night Jon-Paul and I watched the PBS special on the 50th anniversary of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.  I admit that I shed a few nostalgic tears.  It even taught me something new.  Michael Keaton was one of the flying Zucchini brothers... who knew? Mister Rogers' Neighborhood first came on when I was six or seven months old.  Some of my earliest memories were of watching Mr. Rogers while my mom made dinner.

I loved Mr. Rogers.  I loved his music so much that mom bought his song book for me, before I could even read, so that we could sing his songs together.  When I started piano lessons at 5, I did my best to plunk them out on our piano.  I admit that I probably watched him for quite a while after my friends were "too old" and "too cool" for a children's show.  But when I was watching Mr. Rogers I felt loved and accepted for who I was, which was a big thing for a shy little girl who was often bullied for being to smart.

Eventually, I gave into the peer pressure and stopped watching.  Oddly enough, when my brother went off to college at Carnegie Mellon, he discovered that Mr. Rogers was a hero to the local University.  When Mr. Rogers came on all other activity would stop and all of the students would go to the dorm lounge and watch it together, and not to make fun of it.  There was something about Mr. Rogers that appealed to those future engineers and actors.

When I was a senior in High School, the year book team thought it would be funny to caption my senior candid "Yes, I do date Mr. Rogers."  Of course, at the time I was mortified, but I have come to love that caption.  Even though it was poking fun, it implied that there was something about me that would fit well with Mr. Rogers.  That is really high praise to me now.

When I was in Seminary studying to be a minister, I actually got to meet Fred Rogers.  My childhood pastor from Pittsburgh was being installed as pastor at First Presbyterian in Atlanta.  Jon-Paul and I went to his service to discover that he and Fred Rogers were good friends from Pittsburgh Presbytery.  Mr. Rogers came to do the children's time during the service.  That was where I learned that he was an ordained Presbyterian minister.  As we were going out George Wirth, the pastor, introduced us to Mr. or should I say Rev. Rogers.  I don't remember what I stammered, because I was as star struck as meeting any movie star or Star Trek actor.  I do remember him saying, "It is very nice to meet you, Karen." in his wonderful, gentle voice.

My first 16 years as a Presbyterian minister, I was an associate for youth and children's ministry.  After my very first children's sermon Jon-Paul came up and asked me if I was purposely channeling Mr. Rogers.  I wasn't.  I was trying to be kind, and gentle.  I was trying to show love, acceptance, and respect to the preschoolers sitting on the steps around me.  So, I guess sub-consciously in trying to communicate how much these little ones were worth in God's eyes, I pulled from the best example I had from my childhood.  To this day, Jon-Paul still refers to the tone I use when talking to preschoolers as my Mr. Rogers voice.

When Mr. Rogers passed away I cried.  I didn't cry for him, for I knew he had a special place waiting in heaven.  I cried for his family.  I cried for future children who wouldn't grow up knowing this loving, special, adult friend.  I am glad that most PBS stations still show reruns.

But as I am beginning my journey to start a Geek Worshiping Community, I find myself thinking of Mr. Rogers again.  As an ordained Presbyterian minister if you are not in a church you are supposed to seek what they call a "Validated Ministry."  Mr. Rogers Neighborhood was the validated ministry of Rev. Fred Rogers.  Pittsburgh Presbytery saw it as an outreach to children.  Although he didn't speak of church or denominations, he made sure that each child knew that they were greatly loved and priceless.  He modeled the love of Jesus as well as any disciple.

So, as I seek to reach out to the Geek community I pray that I will have the love, compassion, sense of justice and equality, and acceptance that I learned from Mr. Rogers.  He was a living sermon.  It is a sermon that is sorely needed in our society today.  I miss you, Mr. Rogers.  May I spread even half the love and light that you radiated.

Instead of just signing off "Grace and Peace", I think there is only one way to end a blog about Mr. Rogers: with his own words.
It's such a good feeling
To know you're alive.
It's such a happy feeling;
You're growing inside.
And when you wake up ready to say:
I think I'll make a snappy new day.
It's such a good feeling,
A very good feeling.
The feeling you know, that I'll be back
When the day is new.
And I'll have more ideas for you.
And you'll have things you'll want to talk about.
I will too.

Cries Too Deep For Words

My heart sank as I read the news of the shooting in Las Vegas.  Everyone was talking about it.  In line at the bank the man in front of me was insisting to the two tellers that this is surely a sign of the end times.  I am not sure about that, but there is something very wrong.

There is something wrong when so many people believe that the way to get their point across is to strap a bomb to themselves, drive through crowds of innocent people, or pick up guns and open fire into crowds.

How did we let hate get so out of control that anyone would feel justified in taking lives... not only lives, but lives of innocent strangers.  I don't know if the media has made us desensitized or what, but how can we as a society ignore this hate to argue about politics?

We NEED to stand together to say this is wrong and must stop.  Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindu must stand TOGETHER and say, "No, this is not the way."  Blacks, Whites, Asians, and Hispanics must stand together and say, "No, this is not the way." Gay, straight, transgender, and bisexual must stand together and say, "No, this is not the way." Believe it or not Democrats and Republicans need to get over themselves and stand together and say, "No, this is not the way and we will no longer tolerate it!"

Yesterday was World Communion Sunday where we remembered that all are God's children, all over the world.  We sang "Jesus loves the little children; all the children of the world.  Red, brown, yellow, black, and white we are precious in His sight.  Jesus loves the little children of the world.

I don't know if it is the end times or not, but I know God's heart is breaking that hate, prejudice, and nonacceptance seems to rule all of our society.  If we say nothing to condemn this hate and violence then we are partially at fault.

Romans 8:26 gives these words of comfort.  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words."
 
My heart is crying out because I don't know what to pray, other than this:  "Lord help us!  We have forgotten how to love our neighbors as ourselves"