I really do care

(Occasioned by a Facebook meme that celebrated toxic individualism, and suggested calls for kindness and respect are a form of tyranny – and features a two-handed one-finger salute – no that doesn’t violate FB community standards)

______________

 

I love Jesus (he/she said)

but I don’t care about you.

 

You with the colored skin whose people have been killed, oppressed, and minimized.

You whose ancestors were enslaved.

You whose creed is different than mine.

 

I love Jesus but forget you and your request that I refrain from saying and doing things

that hurt and harm you (the language was stronger).

 

I love Jesus but I hate being politically correct.

I will say “Merry Christmas” and consider “Happy Holidays” as tyranny,

I will say whatever I want and use whatever labels I want.

If that offends you “too bad, so sad”.

 

I love Jesus

but I don’t care about you.

I don’t want to wear a mask,

and my keepers have told me that vaccines are just a liberal plot to control.

 

So thank you very much,

but I will ignore your age, your cancer treatments,

and your auto-immune disorders and I will refuse

to wear a mask or get vaccinated.

 

I love Jesus

but I also love “sticking it to” those I don’t agree with.

I love money (it’s a sign of heavenly blessing right?!)

I love guns. I love political power.

I love dominating and controlling,

and I really (!) love retribution.

 

I love Jesus

I am just don’t love the Jesus who said the last will be first,

the poor are blessed,

turn the other check,

give up all that you have and help the poor,

welcome the stranger,

forgive, forgive, and then forgive again,

bless those who curse you,

sacrifice,

serve,

love all.

 

I love Jesus,

or do I?

 

Honestly each of us must ask,

Right-wing or left-wing, it doesn’t matter.

Each of us must ask what it means to “love” Jesus.

 

I suspect it all comes down to one simple thing,

that one thing

one thing,

 

that Jesus commanded

(he wasn’t subtle)

 

Love

 

Love your neighbor

Love your enemy

Love those like you.

Love those who aren’t like you.

Love those you like.

Love those you don’t like (you don’t have to like them, just love them)

Love those who look like you.

Love those who don’t

Love those who deserve it.

Love those who don’t

Love those who are rich (yes!)

Love those who are poor.

 

Love others

You know, the way Jesus loves you

I really do care (and I’m trying)

Do you?

Catch the wind

In the chilly hours and minutes

Of uncertainty, I want to be

In the warm hold of your loving mind

To feel you all around me

And to take your hand, along the sand

Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind…

 

When rain has hung the leaves with tears

I want you near, to kill my fears

To help me to leave all my blues behind

For standin' in your heart

Is where I want to be, and I long to be

Ah, but I may as well, try and catch the wind…

Songwriters: Leitch Donovan Phillips

_______________

 

in those hours and minutes

in the darkness

 

in that time between when one wakes,

and when one dares to brave the morn

 

in that time when the hungry ghosts

rush screaming through one’s head

 

in that time when all the ills of the world

come rushing in

 

it is time

to be held by Love

 

yes, Sacred comes like the wind,

which we cannot containing

rushing through us, disturbing

 

yes, Sacred comes like fire

hot and searing

cleansing

 

but Sacred also comes like a Lover

holding us close

 

like a mother embracing and comforting

like a father protecting

 

nightmares come

and the darkness seems unrelenting

evil seems ascendent

 

but the Comforter comes

the Helper

surrounding us with Love

 

so that we stand in the Heart of God

if only for a moment

 

but that moment is enough

 

we have caught the wind

Maybe it is not too late

Every morning I wake up and think, what a beautiful day to be alive!

NOT!

I would like to feel that way.

Sometimes I do feel that way.

But very often my monkey brain is too busy, too stressed, too full.

 

There is a world out there that is beautiful to be sure.

There are people out there who make me smile.

 

But the planet is struggling.

And there are people who are immersed in lies,

and enslaved by toxic individualism,

 

and the lust for power and wealth,

and a willingness to abandon truth and kindness to achieve power and wealth,

 

overwhelms.

 

At times I get out of bed with purpose, ready to embrace the day

and make things happen.

 

At times I feel so very small and helpless,

and wonder why I should bother to get up at all,

while every fiber of my being says,

 

its impossible.

 

But I know it is not!

Oh, I have no illusions that I will change the world.

But I know that the Love that dwells in me has the capacity

to make the impossible happen.

 

That is what the force we call Yahweh has always done.

Think creation!  Order out of chaos.

Think Abram and Sarai, impossibly barren, and yet, Isaac

Think Zechariah and Elizabeth!  Again the impossible.

And think Mary.

And the empty tomb.

And Pentecost.

And…

 

Which is why there have been those among God’s people who have always dreamed the impossible.  Who have envisioned the impossible.

 

And who encourage us to join them!  Who encourage us to believe that maybe what seems so impossible is possible after all.

 

Maybe guns will be beaten into garden tools

Maybe justice will flow like a river.

Maybe the predators (corporations and people of power) will lie down with the prey (the poor and vulnerable).

Maybe war will become a thing of the past.

Maybe the kingdom will come.

 

Maybe it is not too late.

Maybe something beautiful can happen.

 

What will it take?

The Spirit for sure, roaring like a fire, rushing like the wind.

Waking us up.

Making us feel.

Challenging us to let go of the old, so we can be open to the new.

 

It will take us

Spirit driven,

being broken open, and poured out

and willing to work to make a difference,

even when it feels impossible.

 

Even if that difference is only manifest one person at a time.