Walking... to Another Site

It's not like I have a huge following, but for those of you who periodically check this site to see if I am up to anything new, well, I am, but not here.

Its Political

    There is no question that we are currently in the midst of incredible political polarity. It seems like everything is political and every issue has a line that is a mile wide separating the sides. Judging by the political commentary, from national news to Facebook posts, there is a practical belief that the loudest, most persistent (and obnoxious), voice will win the argument of the day. We proclaim our “rightness” with name-calling, finger-pointing, and mockery of the “other side” and with every comment, we expand the division created by the mile-wide line. The defense of our position and our passionate insistence that we are “right” (or “on the right side of history”) alienates everyone who disagrees with us. In addition to being political, everything, it seems, is personal.

A Jog and a Drive

I don’t think anything of it when I leave my house. I put in my earbuds, turn up the music, try to convince myself that I am in my 30s and I start jogging. My four-mile loop takes me out of my immediate neighborhood, past the Catholic Church and cemetery, and through the neighborhood lining the golf course. A little over a mile into my run I turn a corner and start running on sidewalks in front of houses, the majority of which are more expensive than mine.

Finding Church

It has been almost two years since my wife and I decided to pack our spiritual bags and leave our church. After more than twenty years of serving, worshipping, and living in that community it was a painful, gut-wrenching decision. It had become clear, though, that we were on a divergent path from the rest of leadership and the bulk of those who made up the body. At some point our paths split into two and we began veering away from everyone else. At first it was no big deal, we stayed close, but as we kept walking the distance between us became greater and greater and it was clear that the two paths were not coming back together. So, we said our goodbyes and chose to walk alone in the hopes that our path would join with another group that was willing to take us in and let us tag along.

A Psalm of Lament

Near the end of my Old Testament Theology class, after talking about laments in scripture, my professor talked about the exercise of writing our own psalm of lament when we feel like crying out to God. I've been there for quite awhile, so I thought I would start writing to see what happened. It didn't solve anything, but it was kind of therapeutic and I find myself returning to these words when I pray to God. It may not resonate with many, but I thought I would share what came out.

My Lament

O God my Lord

Why does your presence elude me?

Why is your face hidden from me?

When I step to the right, you move to the left

When I move to the left, you step to the right

When I follow your path

I find only your footprints

I climbed to the top of a mountain to find you

I stood in the cleft of the rock

And I waited for you in silence

But I was overwhelmed by the rushing wind

I felt the thunder of the mountain

And heard the shaking of the ground beneath my feet

But you, my Lord, did not come

We All Lose

Here is a bold prediction concerning the impeachment “trial” of Donald Trump – The results of the “trial” will be virtually inconsequential in changing anyone’s mind, including those with front row seats, about his guilt or innocence. Those who hate Trump have already decided that he is guilty. A 30-second CNN promo is really all they need to reach that conclusion. Even if there is a mountain of evidence suggesting that there was no impeachable wrongdoing, they will remain fully convinced that he is guilty of everything suggested and even more. There is no measure of evidence that will convince them otherwise.