Religion and Government

“We have no King but the emperor” (John 19:15). In reading John’s account of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, we see the danger of an alliance between religion and government. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day wanted the Roman Government to enforce their expectations. The result then and now is that truth is crucified. True religious belief and behavior comes from the heart; it is not and cannot be enforced from outside of a person.

The Commandments

There seems to be a lot of political talk about putting the Ten Commandments into our public schools. I am not opposed to the Ten Commandments, but I am uncomfortable thinking of them as some type of magic wand that will solve the school’s issues. It isn’t just the schools; we seem to have behavioral and attitude issues throughout our culture. When I read the scriptures, I note that Jesus did not mention the Ten Commandments. When he was asked about commandments, he talked about loving God and neighbor as self. As he neared the end of his life, he again emphasized love as the commandment. I am not sure how putting something on any walls, such as schools, factories, offices, etc. will help us have a more loving spirit toward one another and ourselves. If such a message is not in our hearts and minds, it may help as a reminder to place it on a school or office wall. However, it first needs to be in our hearts and minds.

A National Fear?

I wonder if our nation is not full of fears. We refuse to share our national prosperity and blessings with our Hispanic neighbors. We desire to make any person who is not heterosexual an outcast from our society. Our national history is evidence that we have abused the native Americans as well as the dark-skinned Americans who may have come from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, etc. We seem to value greed over earth, water, and sky care. It appears to me that we are not able to recognize and confess our own evils, so we insist that our children never hear our complete national stories. I think our national fears, denials, and avoidances are attempts to maintain a false national identity. Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32), then someone added ‘but first it will make you miserable.’ Fear prevents us from seeing the truth about ourselves and our relationships.

Chipmunks, bird feeder and a tree

We have two bird feeders along with squirrels, and chipmunks in our backyard. Recently I planted a young tree in the place where one of the bird feeders had been. I cleaned most of the feed that had fallen to the ground and planted the tree in that spot. Nevertheless, the chipmunks come to the newly planted tree and throw out the dirt looking for fallen bird seed—or at least that is what I suppose they are thinking and doing. I guess the chipmunks are giving me a lesson in habits. Habits are hard to break even if they no longer serve their original purpose. I hope the chipmunks will eventually learn that there is not much seed around the new tree and the bird feeder has been moved about ten feet away and seeds are falling underneath. At least I assume chipmunks are that smart, but I must realize that many humans are not that smart either because we keep doing the same old behaviors and having the same old attitudes we had in the past—even when they no longer serve us well.

Perfection

“The demand for the perfect is the enemy of the possible good.” (“Thanks” Richard Rohr, on-line devotional of 7-12-23). It has been said that the only thing wrong with perfection is that it is not. When Jesus speaks of being perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48), I think he means to be mature or to be whole. Maturity or wholeness is a growing or developing goal which is never achieved perfectly. It is the process of growing, maturing, etc. that is our goal. This process of maturing involves the whole person, i.e., physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. It even involves our “neighbor” as Jesus’ commandment states is not only to love the Lord, our God, but, also, our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). We cannot separate our spiritual life from the rest of our life. All of life is spiritual and our goal in living is maturing toward the possible good that we can both be and do.

Born To Stand Out

This afternoon, 7-6-2023, we held a memorial service for Kristina Harrison who died in her sleep. This was found in her journal. “Were you forced to be “born to stand out?” Before you answer, really think about the question I’m asking. I can 100% tell you that I was, in fact, FORCED to be born to stand out. When I was delivered as a newborn… my apgars (a score used by Physicians to determine the health of newborns) were 0/0/0. What turned that around for me? A resident, who obviously read his textbooks, paid attention in class, and had a heart; was able to identify that I had TCS (Treacher Collins syndrome which affects the way the bones of the face develop before a baby is born). He was also educated enough on how to secure an airway for me, and thus leading to ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation). I never asked him personally to do this for me. Actually, no one asked him to save this black child with profound medical issues. He did it because he went into the medical field, more specifically neonatology, to help, assist, save the new creatures of this world. He was the first one to demand that I be born to stand out. Then you have my biological family who did not demand that for me. There is absolutely no wrongdoing for their decision. The state then decided to entrust my life to a white woman in a country town who cares for children no one else wanted. She was the second person in my life that demanded I be born to stand out. Even when my body fought against her efforts … she persevered…and maintained the life of a little black girl that many others at this point had deemed that I was actually not worthy and/or able to be born to stand out. She has spent the rest of her days and continues to do so to ensure that I beat the odds and be forced to be the little black girl that was born to stand out. So as the years went by…people saw her (the little black girl) as incapable. No way a little black girl with ALL those medical problems could stand out in a world like this? Well…I’m here…37…almost 38 years old later. Has it been an easy road? Hell no! Have I hit major roadblocks along the way? Hell yes!!! Have I always wanted to fight this daily fight that no one even realizes I have to fight? Hell no! So…when I’m faced with conflict or with situations that make me question…why God? Why did I have to be born to stand out? I will never know the answer while I’m here on this earth. Maybe…I can provide some comfort to those facing similar struggles? Or similar questions? Or maybe…it has nothing to do with me…but everything to do with YOU! Never underestimate what God can do! Don’t EVER underestimate a child of God! Even though the trails [trials] I face make me weary…I must continue the work that the Good Lord is doing through me. I just pray that when people see me, and I mean REALLY see me...they don’t automatically have negative thoughts or questions. Because the God I serve…is capable of ANYTHING! So, while I’m enduring a trail [trial] of not being a good enough nurse, a good enough person…I have to remind myself…God’s got me! Because before I was formed in the womb…He knew…I was born to stand out! No one or anything was going to stop God from making that happen!” Ms. Kristina Harrison

Reading and Writing is Soul Work.

I like to read. I like thoughtful words that engage imagination. I read on my Kindle as well with a paper book. I read books for my profession as a psychotherapist and spiritual friend. I also read novels, short stories, and poetry. I like to read and reread books that have been around for a long time and are considered classics. I like to read new stuff. I like to give away books to folks who come to my mind when I am reading, especially novels. I also like to write, hence this blog which is primarily another type of journaling for me. My reading usually influences my thinking and writing. I write this blog because writing helps me to clarify my thinking. Writing either in this blog or in my journal is part of a discernment process of what is happening with my soul as well as in my mind.

Inclusion or Exclusion

Recently several large Church communities have been excluding others, ex. homosexuals, women in leadership, etc. I do not think this is being like or following Jesus. Jesus was all about including. He included those who the religious and political ’authorities’ excluded. I put ‘authorities’ in quotes because I have always believed that being legal or following a creed, statement of beliefs, etc., does not mean it is right. To assume that legal equals right is not only foolish; it is egotistical. I believe there is a better standard, and it is following Jesus. I frequently say in a therapy session that if you really want to know a person, then you must read their behavior and not just listen to their words. Jesus included all others, no exceptions—well I guess he did make exceptions for those who thought they were the authorities in both the religious establishment and the political world. They just could not tolerate someone like Jesus who included everyone, so they felt they needed to exclude him, i.e., crucifixion. Reading behaviors, I choose to follow Jesus.