Some recent happenings have gotten me thinking about cops, and how we think about them. How we view law enforcement is the result of more influences than we realize. And that affects how we think about the people who get arrested. #FoolishChurch is going to push us to pay attention to the differences in our experiences and assumptions, because it's hard to love people we think are being unreasonable. Today we'll focus on cops. I hope you'll join me. I don't have a lot of first-hand experience with police officers; do you? I've never had to call them to come and deal with a situation in my … [Read more...] about What We Think of Cops
Sitting Next to Arthur Fleck
When Arthur Fleck begins to laugh uncontrollably on a crowded Gotham City bus, it’s easy to understand why people recoil at the awkwardness of this moment. I’m talking, of course, about the new Joker movie, which depicts Arthur’s disintegration from would-be stand-up comic and clown into the villain we’ve met in the Batman story. We come to know that Arthur’s loud and misplaced laughter is a symptom of his mental illness. He even has a beat-up business card he can hand to onlookers with that explanation. It doesn’t really help. No one understands. We probably wouldn’t, either. What if … [Read more...] about Sitting Next to Arthur Fleck
The Difference Practice Makes
I thought I couldn’t swim. Not really swim, not the official way, with arms moving and face coming up out of the water to get breaths of air, all the way across the pool. I had lots of lessons as a girl, and I learned the basics of floating and enjoying the water, but I couldn’t ever master that breathing part. I thought I couldn’t do it. It turns out, I couldn’t do it without practice. I figured this out just now, several decades after I had given up. We recently joined a gym, and then I saw the sign-up for swimming lessons. “I’m not a beginner,” I said to the aquatics guy. “Will it … [Read more...] about The Difference Practice Makes
What We See: different churches (Part 3 of 3)
This week’s post is the last in a series. “What We See” is worth considering, whether it’s our town, our lives, or our churches. Scroll to the two prior posts if you missed them, so you'll be up to date on this conversation. If we see spaces differently based on our life experiences, emotions and perspectives, then it must be true that we sit down in vastly different churches, even if we are on opposite ends of the same pew. I walk into my home church and those gleaming floors still bear the footprints of beloved, faithful souls who were the church for me, through my childhood and … [Read more...] about What We See: different churches (Part 3 of 3)
What We See: different eyes (Part 2 of 3)
This week’s post is Part Two of a series that started last week and will continue with one more post. “What We See” is worth considering, whether it’s our town, our lives, or our churches. Scroll to last week's post if you missed it, and stay tuned as we continue this conversation. Some years ago I read a book whose main character arrived in an unfamiliar town and as a first order of business figured out, seemingly effortlessly, where to pick up some marijuana. I remember marveling at that. Is it that obvious to people who arrive in my town? I wondered. As a pastor of a church inside a … [Read more...] about What We See: different eyes (Part 2 of 3)
What We See: different towns (Part 1 of 3)
This week's post is Part One of a series that will continue over the coming weeks. "What We See" is worth considering, whether it's our town, our lives, or our churches. Stay tuned as we continue this conversation. Imagine my surprise that day, walking around my hometown with my husband. As we talked, I realized we were experiencing two very different towns! I grew up in Prairie City, Iowa, a town that was home to my parents since 1956 (and my mom even earlier). My family has roots here all the way back to 1868. I went through school in the Prairie City Community Schools. Growing up, my … [Read more...] about What We See: different towns (Part 1 of 3)