Discerning What We Can Do

All that I’ve been reading during my vacation eventually came to this theme, one I resist with all my might:

Join with God’s long, slow process
of bringing about change
in me and in the world;
trust in it, with hope.

I prefer things move quickly, with clear goals and rapid, flawless execution of the needed steps to achieve an outcome. I am discouraged when others don’t get on board, don’t see the urgency of addressing an injustice. I despair at set-backs. At the personal level, I’ve day-dreamed  many a time over the years about the new habit I’d adopt – often a prayer habit -- that would presto-chango make me a new person in short order, the one I really yearn to be: kinder, gentler, more trusting of God, and more patient.  I’m so impatient about becoming more patient!

This week, when Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in the back by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in front of his 3 little sons, ages 3, 5 and 8, I was thrown back again to the question we’ve faced so often:  What can I do?  What should our church do?  

Here’s what I’m going to do, for starters:

(1) Join the KC group working on voter turnout for the November elections:  who our elected leaders are matters. It’s the single most important thing for determining the future of our nation, how we will address racism, economic inequality, violence, and even how we treat each other. Our church has allied with three non-partisan get-out-the vote groups, simply encouraging people to vote, especially in places like Wisconsin where there have been policies that depressed voter turnout.  Learn more next Monday at 3 PM, or explore here.

(2) Dig into Exodus – a seminal story of how a nation and individuals changed.  God was there. It took time.It was messy and hard. But it happened.  There is wisdom in the old stories, and we can learn from the Black Church that long has rooted itself in this story.  Follow our sermon series or take the new spiritual autobiography class.

(3) Pray these two prayers from Alcoholics Anonymous, which tell truth: ​

“God, grant that I may have the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; 
​Courage to change the things I can; and the Wisdom to know the difference. “

“Let go, and let God. “

​It’s good to be back among you!

​With many blessings always, Joy