Three is a Magic Number

If you are starting to feel as if you’re on the wrong side of history, it's ok; just get on the right side.   Join the resistance. I know many good, smart people who voted for Trump because they wanted change, they didn’t like Hillary, they figured he’d change once he took office, or they always vote republican no matter what. And I know some of these good, smart people must be looking at this week thinking, “Oh, wow, this isn’t really what I thought it was going to be.   Better keep my head down and my mouth shut.” If you are feeling like you need to cocoon in, resist.  Keep your eyes up.   Stay alert.   Resist the tactics of lies (i.e. crowd sizes and illegal votes) to confuse you on reality.   Resist the tactics of fear mongering to turn you against others because of religion or ethnicity.   If your moral compass is getting confused, the tactics are working.   Resist. Good, smart people: if you need a way out, simply say yo...

At church, some weeks are more fun than others.  I laughed so hard this week, my stomach muscles were sore. It was a fun week : our preschool hosted pajama day, some of our staff dressed in Winnie the Pooh costumes, new families toured the building, we had a successful middle school parent night, and a spur of the moment decision to put up some decorations led to more decorations, and more decorations... and more... one thing leading to another.  We just kept going.  When reflecting about the Being the Hope Community with a colleague, it hit me, "This is my dream job!  Oh my gosh, this is my dream job .  This is what it feels like!"  This community is amazing.  When I came in, they affirmed my skills and gifts and celebrated some of my ways that are a tad unconventional.  And as we keep doing this thing called church, I feel like they keep telling me in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, "Keep going.  Let's keep going."   This chu...

In Minnesota, there’s an online outcry about a black Santa at the Mall of America.   Apparently, some people are so appalled by a black Santa , they took to trolling.   All kinds of crazy are happening in this opposition, because Santa -- as an imaginary character -- can take on any race.   He’s imaginary.   Made up.   Pretend.   Doesn’t a little girl or boy have the right to imagine Santa in whatever color his/her little mind can dream up?!? But now, Jesus… Jesus is a different story.   Jesus actually is a color.   Jesus lived at a certain time, in a certain place.   Misrepresenting Jesus’ race is an actual problem.   Jesus was a real, live brown person, yet we make him out to be white all the time .   Where’s the outrage? When you see a Caucasian nativity scene, how often do you notice it’s wrong or incorrect?   For many years, white Jesus didn’t phase me—I was blind to noticing it.   In fact, in the ...

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.   You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?   In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  Matthew 7:15–17 As a United Methodist clergy person, I’ve had to defend my “fruit” in order to move forward in the ministry candidacy process.   My character has been, and will continue to be, judged by the results of my work, the impact and influence of my words on others, and whether I bring out the best in people or whether I harm others. That has me thinking:   maybe we should apply that same fruit-focused litmus test to our political candidates.   The thing that absolutely bothers me most about Trump’s candidacy and election is that he creates, stirs, and/or emboldens hate in some people… and that is scary as hell, particularly for my friends of color, friends with...