#Life

I was going to write a trite little post today about weekend deals - my no so subtle attempt to raise a little extra cash for necessary home repairs.  Somehow, in light of events of the past few days, that doesn't seem appropriate.  Words can't describe my utter horror and sadness over the event of the past few days - from the shooting of a black man in Baton Rouge, another in Minneapolis/ St. Paul, and the shootings of the 12 officers in Dallas and another in St. Louis and another in Valdosta, Georgia.

I try very hard not to take political stances on my blog - or to express my own personal opinions too much.  I try to keep this blog light-hearted.  Something you won't mind stopping by to read.  Something on the web that isn't full of anger or vitriol.  Something that will, hopefully, make your day a little bit brighter.

After much prayer and thought, I decided that I needed to have some kind of voice.  I couldn't let this week pass without saying something, and I couldn't just post a shameless set of promotional "please buy something to support my blog" crap.

I am disturbed by the level of violence and division that I am seeing in this country.  I am terrified for all of our children - white, black, brown, Muslim, Christian, and Atheist alike, there are great divisions among us, and I feel that outside influences are fanning the flames of anger and division.  By dividing a people, it is easier to conquer and control a people.  I don't know who is attempting to divide us, but it is succeeding.  We are all sharing this one journey together - life.  We all want to survive life and live it to the fullest.

But are we all able to live life to the fullest?  Is it easier for some of us than others?  I don't know.  I am a white woman, and I do not know nor do I understand what it means to be brown in the United States in 2016.

Our pastor posted this letter today.  It was from the Bishop of my church - The Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.  If you are inclined, take time to read through his words.  There is much I don't understand, but I think that Bishop Matthews has done an excellent job of attempting to answer some of the deeper questions around the issues raised this week, and placing other, deeper questions in their place.

July 8, 2016

Friends:
I have a confession to make: I hesitated to write this letter to you. In light of the shootings this week in Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas, words began to feel insufficient. The tragedy, the anger, and the loss seemed to loom too large.
But then a sign appeared outside of Mt. Zion UMC in Highland, near the episcopal residence. It says, “Love overcomes hate.”
I know in my heart that this is true. I know Christ calls us to be bold witnesses to this love, even in the midst of darkest despair. And I became re-convicted that words like “hope” have power.
And so, in a spirit of lament, I call on all the churches of the Baltimore-Washington Conference to make time and space for people to grieve, protest, and give voice to the emotions that surround this week’s shooting deaths of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Philando Castile near St. Paul, and five police officers in Dallas.
In a spirit of possibility, I call on United Methodists to start and encourage conversations that explore the relationships between law enforcement and communities of color. In a spirit of faith, I urge us all to examine how we can make a difference in a growing gun culture, and a society, and a church, still too divided by race.
The images from the videos of the shootings this week were vivid and shocking. I urge you to consider what images we might create of people of faith addressing the violence, suffering, and hatred that surrounds the 123 police shootings of African-Americans this year. What images might we live out of United Methodists honoring our public servants who risk their lives seeking to serve and protect? What are the images of our faith?
As my time as bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference grows short, I reflect back on other letters like this one that I’ve written to you: after the death of 20 six- and seven-year-olds at the hands of a gunman in Sandy Hook; following the shooting of the Rev. Clementa Pinkney and his eight Bible study class members at Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina; and this week — we’ve been called together for profound times of prayer.
It is my hope you will all pray together today, and this Sunday, as we gather for worship across the conference. It is my simple prayer that you will also be called to action — to make a difference — and to honor and serve God in ways that begin to unite people, disarm hate, and bind us all together in justice and peace.
In Christ, we are more than conquerors. May love triumph and justice prevail.
Grace and Peace,
Bishop Marcus Matthews
Baltimore-Washington Conference
United Methodist Church