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Sometimes I read things that really bother me. In a good way. They cause me to wonder, they make me curious. And often, they will cause me to look in the mirror which is truly the hardest thing of all. I just finished reading a new book by Bishop Will Willimon called Don’t Look Back: Methodist Hope for What Comes Next. If you choose to read it, let me know. I'd love to talk it over with you.
I often describe my intention to bring people to the love of Jesus Christ, and my involvement in The Downtown Church, as being “in the middle.” I want to do as Jesus does, accept people wherever they are, and love them as Jesus loves. I want to, but far too often my own biases, agendas, life experiences—well, human nature gets in the way. Subtly, and unfortunately not so subtly, my middle is not so middle. Willimon writes, "Be careful standing in the middle of the road, that’s where the dead animals are. By attempting to stand in the middle of an argument, pastors imply that they have discovered superior high ground that has been overlooked by the combatants.”
And so I look in the mirror and become curious. Am I standing as if I have claimed “the high ground?” Am I standing in the middle because I am afraid to go in either direction and will end up like a flat squirrel? Or am I standing there because in a world of division, separation, pulling apart it is where I will learn how to best love God and love neighbor as I follow Jesus?
Bothered? Welcome to my mind.
See you Sunday,
Lori
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