Conflict

Failures of Imagination

Failures of Imagination

Our greatest failure has been one of imagination. We have failed to envision what we need, what will serve us, and instead attempt to reform rather than recreate, to return to ‘normal’ rather than set new patterns.

The Rise of Fear

The Rise of Fear

Underneath all of this hatred and vitriol is a fear that those we have harmed desire to bring the same harm to us. That we will get what we deserve. It’s an essential lack of faith in the humanity of others because we have been so inhumane.

What to do with a failed coup -Truth & Reconciliation

What to do with a failed coup -Truth & Reconciliation

Restorative justice is hard, intimidating. We are used to a retributive model, wherein crimes are punished, criminals become marked as separate, and punishment is harsh. We have dallied in this country with some rehabilitative justice models, and those are of course more effective than the retributive, but less politically popular, rarely fully funded, and still missing the mark.

Making Space for Slowness

Making Space for Slowness

my mom started getting up at five am, to give her extra time in the day for her. Only for her. She developed a ritual of prayer, scripture reading, journaling, and body movement that she did alone and in silence each morning until her death. When truly alone in the house, she added song to her routine.

Citizen Christian Part I

Citizen Christian Part I

I believe that I have been naïve about holding onto even a redeemed view of any faith-based nationalism, especially one aligned with Christianity. The more deeply I read the Gospels, the more carefully I read Paul’s letters, the more is revealed to me about the truly subversive and radical nature of Christianity, the ways in which the teachings of Jesus upend and transform our world and bring us back to the root of all things, God’s love and grace.

Words Matter

Words Matter

Language conflict can be subtle -like the shifting of a Pauline message that in Greek calls for the equitable redistribution of resources by need and ability into an English “fair balance” that promotes a very unjust practice of giving the same to everyone. There isn’t a huge learning curve when a different translation is offered in such a situation. Yes, this small but significant language shift does totally reframe the traditional take on Paul’s message to the church, both today and then in Corinth, but it brings that message more in line with the Gospel, more in line with other things Paul says, and is more helpful to any community learning how to love each other.