WWJD? The "Outcasts" of Society and Our Personal Response

The New Testament is filled with stories of Jesus interacting with the outcast. In fact these stories are predominate in the Gospels. Jesus is either interacting with, telling parables about or telling his disciples about interacting with outcasts. It's not just that Jesus is interacting with outcast but rather that he is treating them as a Child of God. He sees their humanity AND the divinity that lives within them. He sees and treats them as God would. By his example and teaching he shows and reminds us to do the same.

Yesterday, this concept became very real to me. I don't consider myself a prejudice person in fact I consider myself to be very open minded about and empathetic towards the "outcasts" of our society. Yet, yesterday I was forced to take a deeper look within myself and ask "how would Jesus treat this person?" The first experience occurred at First Presbyterian Church in South St. Paul MN where I was teaching an Adult Education class on Contemplative Spiritual Practices. Earlier in the week I'd been contacted (via email) by Jennifer, the member in charge in Sunday morning Adult Education. So I was expecting to be greeted by her upon arrival. I first saw her from the back; she was tall and wore a lovely dress. When she turned around to greet me and introduce herself it was clear she was a transgender women. I admit I was a bit shocked and starred at her for a moment before I responded. It was this moment of shock that has stayed with me. Why should I be shocked to see a transgendered person? Why should I be shocked to see a transgendered person in church? Why should a be shocked to see a transgendered person in a leadership position in a church? I shouldn't and yet I was!

Fast forward to that evening. Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, MN has been hosting homeless and underprivileged men, women and children for an Sunday evening meal once a month for over 25 years. The young adult group, WestConnect, had volunteered to help serve this sit down meal and I had signed up to participate. Unlike that morning when there was a moment that stuck with me, the evening experience on a whole has stuck with me. As I looked out over the individuals sitting down for a home cooked warm meal I began to see them differently. As I interacted with each individual I began to truly see them as individuals who are just like me. As a long time FEAST volunteer said in our orientation, "These people care about the same things that you do. They want to talk about what is going on the world-football, the weather, music etc." It was true!

So how would Jesus treat these people? First of all Jesus wouldn't be shocked by someones outward appearance. Jesus would treat each individual with respect, love and compassion. We all probably know that and we all know that is how we "should" be treating others. Yet, as the saying goes sometimes "it is easier said than done." So what does respect, love and compassion towards the "outcasts" of our society look like? How can we respond to the "outcast" with respect, love and compassion? These are questions that I am still pondering for myself. I know someways I can be more like Jesus but I also know that I can do more. I will strive to make better choices and strive to see EVERYONE as God see them and respond accordingly.

How will you respond?

Community: Places of Love and Belonging

I am back from a couple week hiatus while I focused on moving back to Minnesota. Yesterday, began reflecting on the importance of community. It all started with a "return" to worship at my home congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church. I was baptized and confirmed in this congregation. I am a true "child of the congregations". Yet, I've been mostly inactive of the past 15 years. As I walked down the halls of the church before worship I was greeted warmly by many individuals who know me. I was greeted with an abundance of hugs and questions about what I was doing and how I was. These greetings continued after worship including a wonderful surprise visit with a friend from youth group days who I'd not seen in probably 20 years! I felt so loved as I walked through that building interacting with this community.

Community is a place where you feel you are "worthy of love and belonging" (Brene Brown).  When you feel loved by the individual members of a community you also feel like you belong to that community. Community's love you for who you are each time you enter that community. They encourage you to grow, to heal, and to build relationships within the community.

After I lost my Christian Education job I felt lost and in desperate need of community. I was living in a "new" state where my primary community had been the congregation I was working with. I was in desperate need of healing, love, and a place to belong. Through a friend and colleague, Gina Struensee, I was introduced to two communities that embodied what community should be. First, the more obvious community I entered into relationship with was First Presbyterian Church in Neenah, WI and more specifically their knitting group. The knitting group welcomed me with open arms and nourished me through their kindness and interest in me as person. I was by far the youngest member of the group yet I was always greeted with enthusiasm and authenticity. The congregation itself also welcomed me, provided space and time for healing, and allowed me to use some of my gifts to give back to this community. Within this community I felt God's love surround me and give me courage and hope for healing and renewed life.

The second community that embodied what community should be was at first a bit surprising to me. I began attending yoga classes at The Flow Yoga & Wellness for the health benefits. I expected it to be just a place to attend yoga classes. As you might expect it turned out to be quite a different experience. I began to build relationships with the owner, instructors, and other yogis. The instructors took an interest in who I was as a whole person. Not only did the they know my story they also took an interest in helping me heal and move forward. They challenged me both on and off my mat. I began to feel a camaraderie with my fellow yogis as we had breakthroughs on our mat and when we fell "off" our mat. This community became the true embodiment of what it means to feel "worthy of love and belonging."

It is my hope that each of you reading this post has a community (or two or three) the embody true community. You have a place that where you can heal, grow, belong and experience God's love for YOU! Please share in the comments a story about community and how it impacts/ed you.

Friday Photographs-Remembering My Baptism

"I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen"

On June 12, 1977 I was baptized surround by God's love in the form of my family and the Congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

This beautiful baptismal bowl adorns the sanctuary at Memorial Presbyterian Church where I serve as Director of Christian Education. It represents the my journey-at times overwhelmed with fear, shame, and anger, healing and transformation 

and shimmers of gold or light.

Back in the Saddle

Today I led staff devotions in my new congregation Memorial Presbyterian Church. My devotion was a reading from a book by the former Senior Pastor at my home congregation Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. Don Miesel. The reading was about balance and how vital balance is to ones faith journey. At first I could not figure out why I was drawn to this reading. Then it dawned on me-I've been feeling unbalanced. Since moving to Appleton and starting this new call a majority of my life has revolved around the church and the people in church. It occurred to me that maybe God is reminding me to find and/or rediscover other outlets for my time and energy. What else am I passionate about? What else to I enjoy doing?

As I've pondered this today amongst the work of my call I realize I miss writing and blogging (it has been over 6 months since I posted last), I miss my photography, I miss crocheting, and I miss reading! I am reminded that I am more than my job and God has given me gifts, skills, and passions that also make me who I am.

I was also reminded that taking a break from blogging, photography, reading, crocheting was necessary to focus my energy on my job search and the "soul and shame work" that I need to do in order to be where I am now. Granting my self grace to do what I needed to do and not what I thought I "should" be doing has given me freedom to be more authentic and true to myself.

Thus I'm ready to be "back in the saddle"-sharing my musings and my photographs.