Wednesday, June 14, 2006
The Deep End...
Monday, June 12, 2006
Unraveled...
Unraveled…
I pulled my own string,
And the beautiful colors,
once woven together,
Fall apart,
Come undone,
And sit in a pile of unusable waste on the floor.
Ugly. Broken. Unwanted.
No one wants to admire my beautiful weave,
To touch my softness,
To feel me wrapped around them, comforting them…. Nothing.
For I am unraveled,
Lying in an angry pile.
Sad, alone, unwanted.
But then the master weaver picks up my scraps,
And with loving hands, and creative passion…
Creates me even more beautiful than before……..
-Kimberly Cole
Some spiritual poetry....
Art by Salvadore DaliHe sees me, me. Not just the smile,
Not just the knowing grin and wink,
He sees me. He sees the need to be held,
He sees the need to be listened to, loved,
Cared for. He sees the need to break
The cycle of pain, for that’s why I see him
Seeing me.
He hears me, cry out in pain, weep for loss,
Rage from injustice and malcontent dreams.
He reaches deep inside, and without a single
Prayer leaving my parched lips…
He calms, he soothes, he returns me to
Peace.
I awaken, smiling, with a heart full of love,
To give, to share, and to take with me
Where ever He sends me…..
Kimberly Cole
March 12, 2005
The 2nd Half of My journey, 10 Years of Sobriety
The Dolphin Tattoo
“The Dolphin Tattoo”
Over the past several years I have been somewhat fascinated by tattoos, and how they represent or reflect the personality of the person bearing them. Growing up in the “proper” Southern household, I was taught that tattoos were for drunks, bikers, and crooks; my grandmother considered anyone with a tattoo to be either a dope fiend or low life. My life took many turns, and one of those turns was to the U.S. Navy. While at AT School in
This tattoo was going to be my reward and symbol for toughing out Boot Camp, for doing what I didn’t think I could ever do, and also for getting rid of that “girl next door” label that everyone seemed to stick on me. I was far from the “girl next door”, behind closed doors I was the girl your mother warned you about. The dolphin, for me, represents freedom and beauty, and the ocean. In my heart, when I am close to the ocean, I feel more connected to God than any other place.
The night Jennifer and I were to go get our tattoos started, the preliminary drawing and preparation, I took some Motrin as a preventative pain measure (I’m a wimp, I know). We also partook of some liquid courage, and before I knew it I was laying back in the chair at the “Scarlet Letter” (I loved the name of that shop, especially it’s literary connotation) with my virgin belly exposed. Nick, the artist wiped me down with a solution, then proceeded to begin the ink drawing on my belly of the dolphin picture that I had brought with me. I giggled, then before I knew it I was doubled over, and Nick was not very amused. He then begin to bring out the ink and the needle, and before he could penetrate my delicate skin, I stopped him. I wasn’t ready for this. I had not thought it through, and I was chickening out for all intensive purposes.
Like marriage, a tattoo is a commitment, something that you are going to have to live with the rest of my life. I think I thought I was ready because my friend was ready, and I was doing this more for moral support, and justifying it by my own immature wisdom. I did pay Nick though, and gave him a generous tip for all his trouble, me. I sat in the chair and watched Jennifer get hers, a sunflower on her ankle. Jennifer’s tattoo represented the nickname her boyfriend had bestowed upon her, Sunflower. I held her hand, and she about broke my fingers. Evidently your ankle is a very tender place to be tattooed. It came out beautifully, and Jennifer beamed with pride, not only for the tattoo, but for enduring the pain to get it. It’s been almost 12 years, and she still feels proud of her sunflower, even though Darren, or Doug, or whatever his name was, is out of the picture. This sunflower to her, is a reminder of a time when she was young, and free, and ready to take on the world. No regrets, only that I didn’t get mine. I told her, someday, when I’m ready. Not just yet.
Random Questions posed by Tammy Montgomery
2. Discuss the dilemma faced by scientists, archeologists, and others (such as mythologists and feminists) who attempt to study what is sometimes referred to as the pre-patriarchal period. How might the problem be resolved in your opinion? Over the past fifty years or more, going back, the academy has been comprised primarily of men, educated by men. As our society has evolved, and with the swell of educated women entering the once male dominated fields of science, archeology, cultural anthropology, and theological history; the findings that were once deemed unimportant by men, are now being brought into light by women. When I say women, I mean women in general. However there are two women that by different schools of thought, clash in their belief of the pre-patriarchal period, and the belief in a Goddess culture. Those two women are Cynthia Eller, a more quantitative researcher and social scientist; and Marija Gambutas, feminist and more of a qualitative researcher. Cynthia believes that the feminist movement has “created” its own mythology in order to balance with the patriarchal dominance of history. To make up for what we’ve lost. Eller and Gambutas both have very solid and convincing arguments supporting their beliefs; however that does not solve the problem. If it could be pulled off, a summit of both schools of thought should converge and compare notes and present evidence for both sides, see what matches up, and work together in a collective effort to find the truth. The truth is out there, buried; either in the vaults of the patriarchs, or in the hallowed ground of our ancestors. True science and history should not contain bias; they are facts that need to be reported.
4. Discuss which of the theories we’ve covered make the most sense in terms of how male dominated systems might have come to supplant more female based ones. There are two theories that we have discussed that still ring in my ears; the theory of war, and the theory of biology. The theory of war as the beginning of male dominance takes root in the very idea of survival. Two tribes of people, mixed with men and women. Those who are able fight to defend their territory and assets; food, water, shelter, and women, leave to go into battle while the women tend to the support of the tribe. The other tribe storms in, and takes the women and girls as their brides and breeders. The other tribe has just created the beginning of a never ending cycle. With war there is rape, the stealing of women, and the killing of women to weaken the other opponent’s morale. Women are then put under protection, and slowly but surely their rights and power within that group becomes stripped away. The other theory, of biology, is a bit more intricate. For years, men believed that women were the life giving source, that they just gave birth. They did not connect the physical act of love with the birth of a child. This myth of Mother Creator gave the woman a sense of power over the men, or at least made them equal to them in some respects. The women were revered as life-giving Goddesses to be worshipped and adored for bringing forth strong warriors, or wise sages to be medicine men. Then they put two and two together (actually one on one), and the mystery and beauty of it all was lost. The women were now just vessels, and not just vessels, they were responsible for what came forth from that birth. If the child was deformed, or it was a girl; then it was the woman’s fault, the child and sometimes the woman would be cast out and left for dead. The men saw biology as a powerful tool once they knew all the secrets. Soon, women were forbidden from worship during menses, and also after childbirth; they were considered unclean. Women were no longer the revered Goddesses of Creation, but now the breeding property of men to dispose of and use as they sought fit. Women were forbidden to work outside the home or tents while pregnant, or while nursing an infant. These thumbs of early oppression soon became fists. Fists we are still to this day attempting to unclench.
6. What in your opinion has been the most valuable of the discussions we’ve had and how has it affected your world view? Early on, when we were discussing the differences between the schools of thought between Marija Gambutas and Cynthia Eller; that really made me think hard about how I analyzed someone’s work. This discussion led into how society has labeled Feminists, and how it’s now more of a derogatory connotation, than something to be proud of. I am proud to be a feminist, in the traditional sense (if there is such a thing). The media and society as a whole has warped the thought processes of millions of thinking people by stereotyping the feminist as a bra-burning, man-hating, NOW sign toting, Lesbian with an ACLU Card. Yes that’s rather extreme, but that’s what the public pictures when the word “Feminist” is used. Our class ranges in age, and it’s been enlightening to get the view point of our younger (18 – twentysomething) students and what they think feminist means compared to the older students who have experienced more and lived through at least three generations. I have learned that we have a lot to learn from each other, that there is no “right” answer, just different paths to different conclusions; it’s your own faith, belief, and power that causes you to seek other paths. Our differing view points, including the male perspective, one what is deemed feminist versus something that is being defended in honor of women. The role of semantics plays very heavy, especially when considering the context of the use of the word feminist. I am a feminist; I believe that women should have equal rights. Yet that’s just me. When we say equal rights now, that also means that women can be drafted. Women are in combative positions in the Israeli Army, why should it be any different in
The Jewish Experience in America
The Jewish Experience in
Exodus Before and after the Holocaust
Sociology 320, Tom Siler
Kimberly Rae Cole
September 19, 2005
Photo: Schindler’s List Video Tape Box Art
Works Cited:
Alteras, Lea Ausch, “Three Generations of Jewish Women: Holocaust Survivors and Their Daughters and Granddaughters”, University Press of
Robinson, George; “Essential Judaism, A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs, and Rituals”. Pocket Books,
Sachar, Howard M., A History of the Jews in
Sarna, Joseph; American Judaism, A History;
The Tanakh, Hebrew Bible.
The year is 1933, and on both sides of the
By 1939, economic depression and government sponsored discrimination had reduced at least a third of
Overall,
Three fifths of the newcomers settled in
Nazi’s stripped the immigrating Jews of their wealth, making it nearly impossible to make it to the
However there were Jews that were not so quiet, and were very active, especially when it came to the shadow of Hitler and his “Third Reich”.
The Depression was a great diversion from the looming horror of Adolf Hitler and the surge of anti-Semitism that would settle into our nation. Jews turned primarily to each other during this time, relying on their ties to faith and fellowship to carry them through. The traditions of self-help and mutual aid overcame religious, ideological, and generational differences within the Jewish community. (Sarna, p.257). Along with the growing spiritual community, the change that produced the longest term impact on American Judaism during the Great Depression was the movement toward the five day work week.
This movement would allow the Jewish Americans the time to observe their Sabbath, which begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday evening. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 made this a reality, supported by FDR himself as part of his “New Deal” (Sarna p.258). This movement was only a drop in the bucket to what lay ahead for American Jews and their former homelands in
One of the outspoken was Alfred M. Cohen, President of B’Nai Brith (Major American-Jewish communal organization), who established a joint conference committee to monitor the development of the
In the 1930’s there was no internet, no satellite television, or television for that matter; at least in the common man’s home. The information that the general public got came from the radio and newspapers. The American Jewish Year Book in reference to the rise of the Nazi’s and the horrors of the Holocaust wrote this in 1931, “The Jews of the
The American Jewish community was awash in despair, the emotional toll the Depression and the War had taken a toll on them, and now the threat of Hitler’s plan of extermination seemed to be the last straw. Leaders, Rabbi’s, and all of the American Jewish community were plagued by the moral dilemmas of how they should “rescue” their people.
These dilemmas included:
- Ransom payments to the Nazi’s for release of prisoners
- Throwing the gates of
- Should they exert special efforts to save certain groups of Jews (rabbi’s, scholars, labor leaders), or should all lives be considered sacred and holy? (Sarna, p.262 - 263).
- Rising Anti-Semitism (in 1938, according to one poll, one-fifth of all Americans wanted to “Drive Jews out of the
- The persistence at which Hitler pursued and attempted to exterminate the Jewish population.
- The rise of anti immigrant sentiment.
- Persistent isolationism.
This was a great moral and spiritual dilemma, but even in the midst of Hitler’s rise to power, the interfaith ties strengthened in the formation of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ). They worked re-invigorate their faith almost in response to those who sought to undermine it. “Jews… who had abandoned their people were returning like prodigal sons because of the threat of annihilation, they were impelled to rise to new heights of spiritual achievement.” Mordecai Kaplan, a noted Reconstructionist Rabbi. (Sarna (p. 264)
Contrary to popular belief
In 1942 the World Jewish Congress, led by Rabbi Stephen Wise, informed the
Setting a historical precedent, the Jewish American community organized a day of mourning and prayer on December 2nd which received wide attention. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia was at the center of the day’s activities which were marked by special newspapers with black borders, moments of silence; it spread like wildfire, with NBC broadcasting special reports and holding moments of silence on their national radio broadcast.
In less than a week, leaders representing every faction in American Jewish life, religious and secular, met with
In a series of interviews found in the book “Three Generations of Jewish Women: Holocaust Survivors and Their Daughters and Granddaughters”, Lea Alteras transcribes the stories of Holocaust survivors, and takes you to a place you can never come back from. Brenda, a Holocaust survivor was born in 1926 in
Brenda described her train ride as the “train going to hell for days.” Women held tight to their children, for fear they would be taken away. They were all cold and tired and hungry, and there was no relief in site and it wasn’t going to get any better. There, she was separated from her mother, who was then taken into a line and shot. Her life at the concentration camp was full of fear and despair. She was threatened by soldiers with words of “Do you see smoke coming from that building? Your families are burning there. Your families are all dead.” (Alteras, p. 50).
Brenda’s father had told her to volunteer; the volunteers are treated better and fed better because they are working for the Nazi’s. May 10th, 1945 they were liberated from the camp. Brenda stated “What a day that was in my life. Both the Americans and Russians came. They gave us food and clothing and they were freed.” But she had nowhere to go, her parents and her brother and sister had died while they were there, either executed, or fell victim to the hellish climate of
Because of the Holocaust, and that time of horror, the interviewees have referred back to their lives as Pre-War and Post-War years. It’s almost as if it separates them as two different people; which make sense in so many ways. These women endured atrocities beyond comprehension. Alteras states that the memories of the Survivors have naturally focused on the horrors experienced in the Holocaust and have tended not to concentrate on their childhood years, and some even tried to romanticize those years. Many times their childhood experiences and their young adult lives were completely disconnected from each other. (Alteras, p. 88)
That kind of horror just doesn’t go away, especially if you’ve lived in it, ate in it, slept in it; it gets ingrained in your soul, the faces of the enemies, and the faces of those you love and share spiritual kinship with taken away to be slaughtered like animals.
To the new Jewish immigrants and Holocaust survivors the reality of
The women of the Holocaust did not easily assimilate into the American society. Settling into Brooklyn and the
Life in the
After WW II the socioeconomic profile of the Jews was transformed into the “American Dream”. There children of the Holocaust were having children, mostly born in New York City, they lived in the suburbs, fewer spoke Yiddish, and most of either owned their own business or worked in the garment district. (Alteras p. 120) Nearly sixty percent of the Jewish population came from immigration during the time frame from 1947 until 1956, most of them being refugees displaced by the war. By the year 1990, the survivors of the Holocaust and their children constituted eight percent of American Jewry and their influence was greater than their numbers. They were driven to rebuild the Jewish tradition and culture that they thought had been wiped out in the 1940’s.
These traditions include the celebrations of Shabbat on Friday evening, usually followed by an evening at
Celebrating 50 Years of Women in Clergy Roles
Skirts in the Pulpit
A Woman’s Struggle to Answer Her Call
Kimberly Rae Cole
Experiential Studies in Women’s Spirituality
December 7th, 2005
"I'm sure people in
“While responding to a community in grief at the loss of a student at a local high school I was blatantly confronted by the local Baptist minister by him asking, “What are you doing here thinking you can be a Pastor? What are you trying to prove? Are you one of those radical feminists?’ With that I just looked him straight in the eye and said that I would be happy to answer his questions at another time that was appropriate, that I have been called here to minister to others in their time of need.” Rev. Rebecca Goodwin of the United Methodist Church of Rancho Cordova, California is quoted as saying during a personal interview. Rev. Rebecca Goodwin is also known to my family as Pastor Becky; she is a friend, minister, and community leader involving social justice.
These two women, on opposite coasts of our country have something in common; they are both clergywomen, Ordained by God, and recognized as Elders in their respective denominations; and they both continue to face the disapproval and discrimination that women still to this day find in the “modern” Protestant churches of America. As American’s we have seemingly kept up with the times, female astronaut captains, Condeleeza Rice as Secretary of State, and even women in the Grand Prix circuit of car racing. Yet when it comes to answering the call to ministry, many women in
To those on the outside of the church community it may seem like it is wholly a feminist issue, it is not. For women who have clearly felt called by God into ordained ministry, it is belonging to the right denomination that will allow them to proceed in their continued discernment and calling. For women like Reverend Winter and Reverend Goodwin, they don’t look at their calling to be a platform for some radical feminist agenda; is the most personal and spiritual time in anyone’s life, man or woman.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 28:v. 18-20, Jesus says to his disciples, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…..” What isn’t clear here was who all his disciples truly were. There has been over many years, great controversy stirring over the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary, The Disciple of Jesus. That Mary Magdalene was an actual disciple of Jesus Christ. If this is such the case, then it sheds a different light on the scripture referenced in Matthew. It sheds a different light on everything, including some Protestant denominations claims that women in clergy leadership roles are deemed as Biblically unsound. The scriptural references that have been used in the past by such denominations are now unraveling in the discoveries of new translations, and the discovery of the Gnostic texts which include the Gospels of Mary and the Gospel of Thomas; found in
In Marvin Meyer’s English translation of the texts that are known as the Gospels of Mary, Karen King states beautifully the role of Mary the Disciple, “The portrait of Mary Magdalene offers and alternative sole reliance on apostolic witness as the source of authority. Although she too, knew the historical Jesus, was a witness to the resurrection, and received instruction from the Savior, these are not what set her apart from the others. Mary is clearly portrayed through the Gospel as an exemplary disciple. She does not falter when the Savior departs. She steps into his place after his departure, comforting and strengthening the others. Her spiritual comprehension and spiritual maturity are demonstrated in her calm behavior and especially her visionary experience. These at once provide evidence of her spiritual maturity and form the basis for her legitimate exercise of authority in instructing the other disciples. “. (Meyer, p. xvii)
The most used scripture by the opposition to women in clergy is 1 Tim 3:14,15; 2:11-15. I have heard this ring in my ears many times, especially from the mouths of those whom I have told that I am planning a lifetime of ministry in response to my call from God. They say (might I add with finger wagging within three inches in front of my face.) “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. [What follows are God’s instruction for a woman’s functioning in the formal services of the local church, which would include Sunday school]... Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I [Paul, as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, with full authority of one inspired by God] suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [A woman cannot teach with authority; e.g., in Sunday School classes, Bible conferences, etc. When a woman stands before a mixed crowd that includes men and opens the Bible and preaches or teaches, she is taking authority.] For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
[The woman was created after the man to be his helpmeet, not his head. Obviously, this is NOT a cultural matter, but is based upon the order of creation; this establishment of the principle of order transcends culture!] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived [“quite deceived” (NASB—Gen. 3:13)] was in the transgression. [Therefore, the woman was not spiritually qualified to teach because of (1) the order of creation, and (2) the facts of the Fall.] Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, [i.e., she will be occupying herself with the duties of the home and family (as evidence of her salvation given through the birth of the Messiah), and will receive her fulfillment/purpose in life in that arena] if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety [“self-restraint” (NASB)]. (New American Standard Bible, Tyndall)
This piece of scripture has been scrutinized on both sides of the argument. "I think the attitude against women as pastors mostly comes from a lack of knowledge," Rev. Winter is quoted as saying. "A lot of conservative churches are opposed to it because of their interpretation of the Bible. But there is solid biblical scholarship that refutes that interpretation." In the “Women’s Bible Commentary” scholar Joanna Dewey’s studies state that First and Second Timothy are called the Pastorals because they contain the instructions for pastors of congregations. They claim to be letters from Paul to two of his colleagues, Timothy and Titus; however they are neither true letters or written by Paul for that matter. Instead they have been discovered to be handbooks written for church administration in the early second century, decades after the death of Paul. As you have read in the previously quoted scripture from Timothy, that women are the source of evil and temptation and should be silenced in the church that this letter was written by a man. (Newsom, Ringe, ed p.353). Arleta Riley, minister of new members training at
So who should we believe? What is true and what is not when it comes to this centuries long controversy? You must take into consideration that the Bible is a group of collected works, written by men, and women that was inspired by their faith in God as well as faith in the Holy Trinity. Inspired. It did not suddenly fall from the sky into the pulpit wrapped in a pretty ribbon saying “To the World, From God”. Although some may argue that as well. Especially our Jewish brothers and sisters.
We must keep in mind that in the early years of Protestantism, women were rarely educated, period. Only the wealthy and some daughters of the greatest thinkers were even taught to read. The patriarchal dominance of society had its feet firmly planted in what I see to be a place where all should be equal, man and woman, of all races. Jesus wanted us all to be ministers, not just men. He preached to the children, to the lepers, He ate with sinners. He saw a woman as a woman and a man as a man, but he saw neither as dominant over the other, I have found nothing in the New Testament that states such interpretation; and that’s exactly what it comes down to, a matter of interpretation. We can either chose to believe certain things and stay cemented in the suppressive past, or break free and accept the love for all that Jesus intended for us to have.
Today, many denominations are making the way clear within their doctrines to ordain women to Pastoral Clergy, to join their brothers in Christ in the pulpit to teach the word to all, and to minister to those in need. The first woman to be ordained as Pastor was Antoinette Brown, of the Congregational Church in 1853. Although she was removed from leadership just months later, the historical significance of her ordination at that early time in
Since that date women have become ministers, deacons, and even bishops. The California Nevada Annual Conference of the
Watching the Bishop interact with those kids, to sit amongst them in the bonfire pit the previous evening and share of her love for creating with gourds and craving for tacos, brought me closer to God in a way I never thought possible. It showed me that we are all equal, and that no matter who we are, we are deserving of God’s love and acceptance. We are all equal in God’s eyes; man, woman, white or black. Fiftry years ago Bishop Shamana would have had to sit in the back of the church, or not attend my church at all. Bishop Beverly Shamana is not only a woman, but an African American woman. She has had to break through many barriers to become who she is today, not only with the struggle of gender, but of race as well.
Then why are there barriers to answering God’s call? Why are there barriers for being able to do what you are called to do by God? Isn’t it God that is guiding you on your path? Even though there is still opposition within the ranks of the major church denominations, there has been a significant rise in the enrollment of women in theological seminaries across the nation. Though overall numbers of Protestant clergywomen are unavailable, the Association of Theological Schools reports that the number of women seeking masters of divinity degrees in member seminaries has multiplied nearly seven times in 30 years, to 32 percent in 2002.
The Rev. Ann Svennungsen, president of The Fund for Theological Education in
"That's a dramatic shift," she said. "It's as dramatic as anything since the reformation to go from no women in seminary to a third of all students and half of all mainline Protestants in seminaries being women." (Ricks, Website).
Contrary to popular belief, not all male church leaders are opposed to women as ordained clergy, Dr. Tom Butler, Ph.Div., has written a book entitled “Let Her Keep It”, a testament of courage on his part, as well as a testament of faith and belief that Jesus did intend for women to be ordained as clergy and leaders within the church.
“Whenever I hear my brothers and sisters in Christ saying that nothing in Scripture can be found to support the idea that Jesus intended for women to be ordained as priests, I feel pain. For centuries women have been instructed to deny what they feel in their souls for that reason….” says Dr.
In my interview with Rev. Rebecca Goodwin, I asked her if she ever felt discrimination as a female pastor. Her response was that it wasn’t as blatant as the Baptist minister, but it was subtle. Subtle being the lack of being taken seriously; meaning that if a male pastor had requested what she had, it would be done already. Along with comes a tense undercurrent of dissention that sometimes occurs if there is lack of respect of authority. There are still some in our church that are uncomfortable having a women in spiritual leadership, they won’t outwardly say it, say’s Rev. Goodwin, but she can see it in their actions towards her.
When I say authority, I don’t mean that she’s a dictator, but the role of the pastor is also to insure that the laws and discipline of the church’s doctrine are being followed, along with tending to the spiritual well being of the congregation and surrounding community. Being a pastor isn’t just a Sunday job, it’s a 24 hours a day seven days a week job. Not only is she responsible for her congregation she also shares the responsibility of her family. Being a pastor to her is like being a mother, it isn’t what she does, it’s who she is; a beloved daughter of God and sister in Christ.
As long as there are those who chose not to educate themselves and continue to live in the shadow of patriarchy, persecution, and blindness, women will struggle to answer their call. With faith, hope, love, and knowledge on our side we persevere; walking hand in hand with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and continue to reach out to those who try to turn us away.
Selah.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Fitting in Sermon by Kimberly Cole
This is a sermon I wrote for Graduate Sunday, on May 21st at UMC Rancho Cordova. Scripture reference is Romans 12:1-8.
Fitting In….
We seem to forget about Jesus. As Christians we have been taught to practice acceptance in all aspects of our lives, not just between 9 til noon on Sunday. We leave the gravel of our parking lot and leave Jesus standing where we were parked looking out at us with a look of bewilderment on his face that says, “What about me? Doesn’t anything I say matter?” We go back to our jobs and ignore the new person in the cubicle next to us, we go home and disconnect from our loved ones, and go back to the school yard to bully the weak and tease the less fortunate….. Our faith wavers, our hearts waver, and we find ourselves sleeping in on Sundays, making excuses to just drop the kids off. We become less prayerful, less thankful, less joyful. We wonder why all of a sudden the world seems ugly, violent, and unforgiving; our hearts begin to break, depression sets in. I know from personal experience how painful the disconnection can be. I disconnected myself for almost eight years. I felt like I didn’t fit in anywhere; then God stepped in and sent me someone to bring me back. I stepped into this chapel and I was home. Everything that I feared was gone. I didn’t have to pretend to be anything, I didn’t have to be perfect. I just had to be me. In the book “Wicked”, a story about the early days of the Wicked Witch of the West, our author paints a picture of a young girl that is an outcast; not because she is mean , but because she is, well, green. Her college roommate “Galenda” makes it her mission to make her “Popular” by dressing her up, giving her a makeover, yet she is still green. (Play music clip of Popular). Have you ever tried to “fix” someone to suit you? Tried to encourage them to dress differently, act differently, all because they didn’t fit into your standards? Life could have been a lot easier if you would have just accepted them for who they were, and you could have celebrated your differences rather than scorn them. Could you imagine what that would be like that if everyone practiced that in their daily lives? There would be kids who would enjoy going to school, work environments would be more peaceful and productive, and families would blossom and flourish. Yeah, what alternative universe am I living in? The one that Jesus painted for us in the Bible, and in the scriptures that were read earlier; 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Every morning we wake up God gives a chance to start over again, without having to go through the pains of school, exams and what not; we don’t have to chant or shave our heads and leave our families. Are we blessed or what? And it’s true, we just have to accept it. For some of us it’s hard, and we have to do it on our own time. No one can do it for us. Yet it applies to all of us, young and old, happy or sad, content or pessimistic. Jesus ate with the lepers and sinners and yet we have a hard time volunteering to help cook meals and host the homeless. Jesus befriended Mary Magdeline and accepted her as she was; yet some have difficulties befriending the new, letting in the circle. Yes, Jesus had a circle…. It is in the shape of the world, and is infinite in time. If you ever think you don’t fit in, know that you do, you are that missing piece in God’s heart and you fit perfectly in. Every time, just as you are.
