Culture
What’s going on, who we are, and what the big deal is.
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Our Dream and Our Reality
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3 min read
Fifty years ago today, the most powerful, religious moment in our shared public history occurred: the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. And I can’t help but believe that we’ve missed the most important part. I’ve written about how we’ve domesticated King’s message and the intention of the moment into it’s direct opposite purpose.…
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Jesus Divides Parents and Children
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3 min read
In tomorrow’s gospel from Luke (12:49-56), we get a most striking vision of a pissed off Jesus complaining about His burdens and claiming (in my 21st Century voice) You think I’m the bringer of peace! Idiots! I bring conflict! It is a hard enough gospel to take, and my (very different) homily will go up…
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Fooling Expectations
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6 min read
Suspense in action By the time the car pulls off the lot and drives down the road, I was more terrified than I had ever been by a movie. The beginning of Psycho had my guts wrestling my fast-beating heart for room in my throat. And yet nothing scary has happened yet at that point…
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Repent For Your Bad Driving
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3 min read
When people cut each other off in traffic, or pull out in front of others, we are always looking the other way. If it were a mistake or if they didn’t see you, they would try to correct, jerking the steering wheel or pleading for forgiveness in the rear view mirror. I don’t know how…
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Racism Is Not In Your Head
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3 min read
This week has been an auspicious week for racism. The strange, Saturday night acquittal of George Zimmerman, who admitted to the killing of Trayvon Martin, led the world to discuss the place of race in the criminal justice system. This was salt in the wound of those shocked by the Supreme Court’s gutting of the…
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I had trouble sleeping Saturday night. I was angry. Angry that George Zimmerman wouldn’t be punished, for the fear that has beset the African American community, for all the bullshit post-racism talk of my white neighbors. Mostly, I was angry that I was feeling powerless as a church leader to express myself. It frightened me…