Learning to be Brave - October 20
Today’s Readings - Psalm 25; Jer. 44:1-14; 1 Cor. 15:30-41; Matt. 11:16-24
Growing up in Mississippi in the 60s and 70s gave me a perspective that opened my eyes at an early age to things that many people would like to pretend never happened. My perspective was broader than many of my friends simply because of who my parents were. My mother was an outspoken liberal, who was heavily involved in the civil rights movement, state politics and the state mental health association. In areas where few women asserted themselves, she was respected immensely. My stepfather grew up in Boston, the son of Jewish Russian immigrants. He put himself through medical school and served in the Navy. His perspective gave me some of my richest and most precious memories.
Neither of my parents shied away from doing what they believed was the right thing, even when it caused them to lose friends or be ostracized. As a child I didn’t understand most of what was happening. Since then, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of their actions and the courage it took.
Most of my high school friends came from families who belonged to one of the all-white country clubs. There was one that accepted Jewish members, but no people of color. I remember signs that said, “Whites Only,” in restaurants and on water fountains in the park near our house. In the eighth grade many of my friends were bused to a school on the other side of town to accommodate desegregation laws. These were confusing, difficult times. The African American students didn’t like it any better than the white students and the teachers were openly angry and hostile – who could blame them? No one liked being told where they could work or go to school. Desegregation needed to happen, but it was a tough time to live through.
When I read the gospel from Matthew for today, it makes me wonder if people in my hometown would have behaved differently if Jesus had witnessed their attitudes, the cruelty, the blatant disrespect for other human beings? What if Jesus had shown up and had chastised them? Would people have thought better of the way children of color were treated, or people of different faiths? Would I have been more appreciative of the way my parents chose to live?
What would Jesus think about the way we behave today? The way we so quickly condemn others for a different point of view, or any of the many things we allow to happen, either by our silence or our failure to act.
In Bp. Mariann Budde’s book How We learn to be Brave she discusses those decisive moments in our lives when we come face to face with difficult deicisions. I heard an interview with her last week. She stated that being brave isn’t a one and done event. That it’s a lifelong process, a journey in which we must choose each day how we will respond to life’s challenges, decisions that reflect our values and the tenets of our faith. Finding answers in uncertain times is hard. Don't forget - Jesus is within each of us, encourage one another to draw from that inner strength and keep searching.
Faithfully,
Sally+
Questions for Reflection - What is one decision you wish you could go back and do differently? How would you choose today to respond? How can we make a difference? Learn to be brave? There are resources available - workshops, books and discussion groups. For more information checkout braverangels.org