Rev. Valerie's Reveille

For the last day and a half, I’ve been attending a continuing education retreat called “Gathering of Leaders.”  This year, the topic is “Racial reconciliation and discipleship in the missionary church.” I will freely admit that my brain is overloaded at the moment and I am writing this blog knowing that I need much more time to sit and reflect on all the presentations, conversations and discussions we have engaged in in 36 hours.  I am acknowledging that this short reflection will not do this topic justice and so I will revisit this next week when I’ve had a little time to digest.  In the meantime, I offer a few observations that I already know are vitally important to our work as Christians. 1.       The work of reconciliation starts with admitting I am sinful and am in need of redemption, which I mercifully receive through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   2.       Part of my sin is choosing co...

This is a picture of a fragment of the World Trade Center.   It was found in this cross-shape on September 13, 2001, right at the beginning of the recovery efforts at Ground Zero. It was prominently displayed throughout the clean-up and is now part of the exhibit in the 9/11 Memorial Museum.   I first saw this cross when I visited Ground Zero in January 2002, while visiting General Theological Seminary. I was awed that this found relic presided over the somber activities in “the Pit,” as the recovery workers called it.   And yet it made absolute sense. The cross is one of the most recognizable symbols of Christianity, and yet it signifies utter failure.   Jesus was executed by the state for treason, even though he was innocent.   Our faith proclaims that through the willing sacrifice of his life, Jesus shows us the way to eternal life.   But that doesn’t negate the fact that the cross is a mechanism of death, and a cruel death at that. On Good Frida...

As a member of “Gen X” (i.e. those born between 1965 and 1980), when I first heard the term “adulting,” I just laughed.  Since I enjoy etymology, I found out that this term was named the 2016 “Word of the Year,” basically because of its overuse by Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996).  Essentially “adulting” means acting like an adult, being responsible for ALL the things adults are to be responsible for like going to work, paying bills ON TIME, perhaps even living in one’s own space (rather than with one’s parents!).  While for generations the transition from adolescence into adulthood seemed to be the natural progression of life, for some that step seemed too steep to navigate.  And to be honest, there are days when I would rather not “adult.”   I would love for someone to take care of me and not have to worry about cooking, cleaning, laundry, bills, or all the other minutia that makes up life. But I know that isn’t going to happen.   I co...