I can’t help but see the irony of the inauguration of Donald Trump on the same day we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I am not sure there are two people who could be so different, but both with the power to impact the nation, for good or for ill.  

Dr. King advocated for America to live up to her promise that “all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “Unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  While advocating for this right of all citizens, he also instructed those who have been denied this equality to not be guilty of wrongful deeds. “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.”  Dr. King’s goal was unity and, in that unity, freedom for all.

Donald Trump advocates for Donald Trump and those who stroke his ego. All of those Christian nationalists who think he’s the perfect leader, but instead is one who conspicuously did not place his hand on the Bibles before him when sworn in to office. Maybe he couldn’t cross his fingers like we used to when we lied on purpose so he just skipped the effort. Some of his first words of this new term attacked my child’s existence. So many issues going on in our country but he elects to attack a very small majority of people with some of his first words.  Donald Trump’s goal is division and continued propagation of hatred while enriching himself and his rich, white male cronies.  Many people I know disagree with this characterization.  They believe that he has the best interest of America at heart.  I would like to say that the next 4 years will prove them wrong, but many have refused to accept the evidence of his past unlawful and immoral deeds so it seems unlikely that any further evidence will sway their opinions.  

As I contemplated this day, I have been filled with negative, vengeful thoughts of documenting everything hurtful and hateful this administration does to undermine the United States of America.  Then I could use this list to say, “I told you so.”  I want to shout about his MAGA followers like Ryan Walters who demand that Bibles be in schools because that will obviously make good Christians.  This same man who can’t trust teachers to teach history wants these same teachers to teach the Bible.  Go figure, right?  I want to scream at the injustices to come with both legal and illegal immigrants will be rounded up like vermin despite the majority of them being productive members of society because of fearmongering and unearned hatred.  The risk of unleashed violence on minority populations is overwhelming to me.

Yet God has been whispering in my ear a reminder that judgement is for Him, not me.  God has been reminding me that my call as a follower of Jesus is to love my neighbors as myself, even those whose every belief I despise with every ounce of my being.  God has been reminding me that I am to pray for my enemies even when the words taste like acid in my mouth.  So I will love and I will pray. I will not give Trump and those like him a seat at my table with God.  I will not let them interfere with my call as a follower of Christ.  I will find ways to serve those who Jesus served – those on the margins: the orphan, the immigrant, the transgender, the lost.  I don’t know how just yet, but I know God will lead me when I listen and trust Him and not get distracted by the enemy in whatever form he takes.

In the words of Dr. King, “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you, my friends.  And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.  It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.  I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’”

Over the last several weeks I have had these verses from circulating around in my head:

– Matthew 22:21 “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”

– Matthew 22:36-39 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first commandment.  ‘And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

These scriptures have been orbiting around a heart-felt concern of mine for the rise of what I see as a use of Christianity as a weapon under the guise that America is a “Christian” nation that needs laws to protect “Christians” and what are perceived as their rights above others.  This seems to be driven by an attitude that Christians are more important citizens.  Despite even Jesus saying to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s, we are seeing more and more attempts to blur the line between church and state. We are seeing politicians using policies or talk of submitting policies as a means of winning votes by playing upon the fears and desires of this camp of people.  It feels like this is a worship of the God of the Old Testament who would smite his enemies to advance his people.  None of this feels like the Christ I worship.  Jesus was not American.  Jesus was not white.  Jesus was not a king on a stallion bearing a sword.  Yet this movement seems to want to promote all of those things.  It is a movement of power, not of love.

Our country is truly a melting pot.  I think there is probably more diversity now than at any time in the past.  In part because people who may have been forced to hide their true selves 50 years ago don’t have to do that anymore.  In this context, churches are struggling to find relevancy in our society.  I honestly think we did it to ourselves.  So many of the religious fail to see the value in the diversity and only see it as a threat. The condemnation and judgement hoisted upon any who don’t look or believe exactly like whichever denomination aren’t exactly attractive to those seeking to know God.  This leads into the second scripture and begs the question, “Who is my neighbor?”

This past Sunday, Pastor Leon delivered a moving sermon on exactly this subject. Using the text from Luke 10:25-37 and the telling of the story of the good Samaritan, he made a couple of significant points to define who is our neighbor. 

First, our neighbor is anyone in our path.  This includes your family, your work group, your church family, your friends, and the people that live around you. It also includes the people in line with you at Walmart, the people you yell at for driving too slowly, the people you write negative comments about on social media, the people you see and look down upon.  Many of these are not people you would pick to be your neighbors, but they are just the same.  Do you love them as yourself?  

The second point Pastor Leon made what that our neighbors are those in need.  The Samaritan did not hesitate to stop and, not only get the Jewish man medical attention, but also paid for his recuperation and promised to pay more if what he initially gave didn’t cover the bill.  He didn’t pause to decide if the injured man was worthy of his kindness or his generosity or his love or his compassion.  Jesus tells us we are to follow the example of the Samaritan and show mercy to all of those in need.  How often do we instead blame them for their situation or kick them when they are already down?  

Pastor Leon’s message was condemning and encouragingall at the same time. I have failed to recognize my neighbor many times. I have failed to love them as myself. I have failed to show mercy to those in need. Thankfully Jesus continues to remove the covers from my eyes to see more clearly. Our nation needs to start removing the covers from her eyes as well. True followers of Christ must try to squelch the false prophets screaming that their religion is the only true American religion to the detriment of so many others. We must continue to reinforce that every person on this planet is a child of God that deserves to be shown the love and mercy Jesus has bestowed upon us. Loving all of our neighbors as ourselves won’t be easy. In fact, many times it might be the most difficult thing we do on any given day. Our instinct might be to put conditions on who the neighbor is or which ones we will help. God’s commandments are clear, however.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

And love your neighbor as yourself.

On my way to church this morning, I was listening to one of my playlists and “I Was Born this Way”, by Lady Gaga started to play.  Some of the lyrics hit me in a different way than I remember previously.

My mama told me when I was young, “We are all born superstars”
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on in the glass of her boudoir
“There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are”, she said, “‘Cause He made you perfect, babe
So hold your head up, girl, and you’ll go far”
Listen to me when I sayI’m beautiful in my way ’cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby, I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret, just love yourself, and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby, I was born this way (born this way)

And further

No matter gay, straight, or bi’, lesbian, transgender life
I’m on the right track, baby, I was born to survive
No matter Black, white or beige, chola, or Orient’ made
I’m on the right track, baby, I was born to be brave’m beautiful in my way ’cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby, I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret, just love yourself, and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby, I was born this way, yeah

“God makes no mistakes.”  That is what struck me.  In the context of race, disabilities, or sexual identify, the song concludes God makes no mistakes.  Interesting concept isn’t it.  If God doesn’t make mistakes and each person is a child of God made in His image, then would that not apply to everyone and not just white or heterosexual people?  Have you ever considered that idea? 

As a parent of a transgender child, I can honestly say I believe Myles was born this way.  Just because I don’t understand what it is to look in a mirror and not see a female doesn’t mean it is real.  I can’t begin to fathom why anyone would choose to promote themselves as something that is treated with disdain and discrimination in our country and our state.  I know some in my extended family, applying their interpretation of psychological studies, would say this is a reaction to Myles’ abusive marriage to a man. Of course, this opinion isn’t based on actual conversations with Myles so how valid are the opinions. I say hogwash.  Myles is living his identity and, because of it, is considered as someone not deserving equal protection under the law he had living as Myla.

Our churches and our legislations seem hell-bent on telling God that He has, in fact, made mistakes when He made people of different colors or sexual identities.  Laws are being passed to restrict teachers in the methods they use to teach about race.  How does the next generation learn about discrimination if we are afraid to tell the truth?  Pretending white people didn’t enslave black people doesn’t make it not true.  Pretending the Germans didn’t think themselves superior to the Jews, leading them to murder millions of people also does not make it untrue.  If our kids aren’t exposed to the horrors that could happen when one group thinks themselves superior to another we are at risk of more atrocities in our future.  And now there are numerous bills seeking different ways to discriminate against LBGTQ people. Where does it end? 

We continue to try to legislate morality under the guise of Christianity.  Take the current law in the Oklahoma legislation to ban books.  Why is a state legislation getting involved in something that could be handled at a school board level?  Because it makes great press for morally superior.  Maybe we should start burning books in the street again.  With the abundance of information infinitely more controversial all over the web, we choose to go after books.  If passed the way initially presented in the Senate committee, a single parent could complain a book doesn’t meet “community standards” and ask it be removed from the library.  If the librarian doesn’t comply in 30 days, the parent can sue for $10,000 per day the book remains.  Tell me how this benefits our community using our legislative and legal systems in this manner?

In his sermon today, our pastor said of the religious leaders of Jesus time that, “They have their religion and they have their rules, but they lost their soul because they lost their connection to God.”  I honestly believe the same of so many in our country that profess to be Christians, but promote actions to suppress LBGTQ rights.  They have their religion and they have their rules, but they lost their souls because they lost connection to Jesus.  Jesus to not seek to oppress and crush these people.  Jesus meets them, and all of us, where we are and only wants to elevate us – though love.  No hate. No condemnation. Just love. 

Did God make a mistake when He made Myles as a transgendered man?  God made no more of a mistake making Myles transgender than He did making me a white, heterosexual woman.  I will stick with Lady Gaga’s theology – God made no mistake. He each of us perfect the way we are and we are worthy of love.

My focus word for this year is “Joy.” After the year that was 2020, choosing joy to focus on seemed like an obvious choice. Thus far, 2021 seems to be caring over some of the challenges of 2020 plus a few more. Will joy be elusive?

In some ways the hunt for joy has been something that has plagued me and many throughout our lives. We are bombarded with images and ideas that the next new gadget or the next new diet or the next new thing will bring us joy. The problem with with hunting for joy is that it isn’t something to be found. Seeking validation and happiness outside of ourselves will never lead to satisfaction. I know this is true for me. So what are the secrets of truly joyful people?

Reading and researching, one thing seems to be true above all. Grateful people are joyful people. Life can challenge us in many ways, but it makes sense to me that focusing of gratitude can lift us up despite our circumstances.

Another article I read really stuck with me – from a different point of view. To me this is a reverse recipe for joyful living – pointing out what joyful people DON’T do. “Truly joyful people are lit up from within. They don’t expect life to make them happy because they recognize this as an inside job and see external situations for what they are — precarious and always changing. Things are temporary, and people are unpredictable. Inner joy is their responsibility and theirs alone.”

1. They Don’t Dwell on the Past

Die to everything of yesterday so that your mind is always fresh, always young, innocent, full of vigor and passion.-Jiddu Krishnamurti

Interesting that this would be the first thing on the list. How much time in my life have I wasted replaying conversations, regretting decisions, and punishing myself for past mistakes. I love that the author noted that “people who reside in joy treat the present moment as the playground for their lives. They cannot afford to feel resentful, angry, or ashamed knowing that they have limited time on this earth. ” Life is too precious and too short to let the past steel our peace of mind.

2. They Don’t Complain

When you complain, you make yourself a victim. Leave the situation, change the situation, or accept it. All else is madness. -Eckhart Tolle

The author argues that joyful people realize complaining is futile. We can complain all we want and it might be briefly therapeutic, but nothing changes. Afterwards we can end up feeling line a victim because whatever we expected or wanted to change didn’t. It took no time for me to see how Eckhart Tolle’s quote follows the philosophy of the Serenity Prayer.

• Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

• Lord grant me the wisdom to leave the situation, change the situation, or accept it.

I know I have given away my joy more times than I care to count on fighting things I cannot change. How thankful the Lord is there to remind me to shift my focus.

3. They Aren’t Quick to judge

What is love? Love is the absence of judgment. -Dalai Lama

“Joyful individuals can see past imperfections. They realize that judgment works both ways. Because they can accept themselves in all their humanness, they can offer the same to others. They reject the burden of condemning their peers, which frees up their energy to be transmuted into more joy.”

The Lord never intended us to judge others and take on that task – that burden. As Dalai Lama notes in the quote, we are to love. I can easily visualize how the load of condemning our peers is a burden that we hoist upon ourselves and weighs us down and and how putting that burden to the side frees us to give joy. What a beautiful idea!

4. They Don’t Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering. -Don Miguel Ruiz

The author points out some valid points. First and foremost, that only people in pain will seek relief by projecting it onto others with hurtful comments. If we look deeper into the comments, perhaps compassion for them can be found as opposed to condemnation of ourselves.

In other circumstances, we can be easily offended when we fill in the blanks in situations, often assuming what someone may be thinking about us. I have been a real pro at this over the years – deciding for everyone what they were thinking or feeling about me. Mostly this is just a projection of negative things I was feeling about myself. This reminds me of guidance I heard a counselor ask Myles as a child “Did they say that with their mouth?” The author argues that, even if they did say it with their mouths, it isn’t my business to worry about because I can’t control their feelings. I don’t have to give others power to control my feelings, either.

5. They Don’t Hold a Rigid Grip on Life

Do not try to fix whatever comes in your life. Fix yourself in such a way that whatever comes, you will be fine. -Sadhguru

Life is never going to go as we predict. If we are willing to go with the flow, our joy cannot be diminished by the curveballs of life.

One thing is for sure, joy is a deliberate choice that can change our lives if we embrace it as the way of life God has intended for us. “Ultimately though, transformation lies in applying what we know is true to our own lives. We have chipped away at the lies we’ve been sold, and are now ready to step into the most genuine expressions of ourselves.” And through our joy, others may be changed as well.

“And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Marianne Williamson

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.

Legacy. This is the word that has been circulating around a lot lately. Given the events of last week, many politicians in Washington are facing a critical juncture on what their legacies might become. President Trump has the distinction of being the only president impeached twice, the second time for incitement of insurrection. The Senators and Representatives who attempted to block the Electoral College vote, especially those who continued to do so after the attack on the Capitol, are facing tremendous blow-back for their theatrics to curry favor with Trump supporters for their own political ambitions. Today’s impeachment vote in the House will impact the legacy of many Republicans. Will they stand against the party and vote to impeach? Will they vote their conscience in support of our democracy or continue to focus on their political futures? Decisions were made. Only time will tell how their legacies will play out.

The real reason legacy has been on my mind this week, however, is because of Ms. Sue. We attended the memorial service for Sue Lippert on Saturday. Sue was the organist / pianist for our church, First United Methodist Church, for over 30 years. To say Sue was exceptionally talented is an understatement. Her gift filled the sanctuary. Even at the end of service, often we would have to pause to just take in whatever closing music she was playing. She was quite a character, often referring to herself as “the pest.” When asked how she was doing, her typical reply was “just peachy.” Ms. Sue has such an amazing impact on the youth that went through the music program, mine included. She referred to them as “her kids.” I must admit, however, what I knew of Sue was quite superficial. Not being a person with any musical talent, I am not in choir or handbells. Consequently I never had the opportunity to get to know Sue on a more personal level. I learned some things during the memorial that showed many facets of Sue I never knew. One was a story relayed from her children coming home one day to mom playing an unexpected, yet familiar tune on the piano – “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. Ms. Sue rocking Queen! What a vision that created in my mind! Another story told of Sue loading up the family car with as many neighborhood kids, blankets, and lawn chairs possible and going to the drive-in movies. Watching her with our kids, I can see how she would’ve been a great mom, not only to her kids, but to all kids. This story exemplifies that to perfection.

The best story I never knew came from former Associate Professor Tom Howard. One of my favorite ways to pray the Lord’s Prayer is a responsive song Tom would lead. What I didn’t know was how that method of worship came to be a tradition in the church. Tom shared that a former pastor asked him to come up with a responsive song. Tom and Sue got together to figure it out. Tom relayed he sang a few versions that Sue recorded. An hour and a half later, Sue returned with the sheet music and this beautiful tradition was born. Tom is providing pastoral leadership to another congregation these days, but on occasion we are blessed with Tom’s return to lead us in praising our Lord through this song.

Each of us will leave a legacy – good or bad. Travis and I are trying to get our dogs accustomed to sleeping in our travel trailer, so we camped out in our backyard one night in early fall. I couldn’t sleep so I got up and went into the living room. We had music playing and the Rascal Flats song “How They Remember You” came on the radio. In the dead of night, listening to this song, well it had quite an impact. The song states “You’re going to leave a legacy no matter what you do. It ain’t a question of if they will, it’s how they remember you.” Through the chorus and other stanzas, the song prompts the following questions:

Did you stand or did you fall?

Build a bridge or build a wall?

Hide your love or give it all?

Did you make them laugh or make them cry?

Did you quit or did you try?

Live your dreams or let them die?

When you’re down to your last dollar, will you give or will you take?

When the stiff wind blows the hardest, will you bend or will you break?

What a beautiful was to frame how a life should be lived.

In considering how I might be remembered, as a reserved person, my circle of influence is pretty small. I won’t be the person whose funeral is attended by hundreds of people, assuming I would want a funeral anyway. But if my legacy is as a person who helped at least one other person live a better life, then I can’t ask for anything better.

A couple of days ago a friend posted “Remember that feeling you got when the second plane hit the twin towers and you realized what was going on? You should have that feeling again right now.” Given our vastly different views about this election and the current presidency, I am not 100% sure what he intended to reference and won’t speculate. But it got me to thinking… The real feeling we need to remember is the day we realized Timothy McVeigh, a United States Army veteran, was the person responsible for parking a van full of explosives in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995, lighting the bomb, and killing 168 innocent souls including little children who had only begun to live.

If you can remember that day and the many afterwards, they were horrific. Then to learn Americans were responsible for that act of domestic terrorism was almost unfathomable. That was my feeling Wednesday learning that Trump supporters, incited by President Trump himself, desecrated the center of our democracy when they burst into the Capitol to disrupt the Electoral College vote. Fellow Americans were fed lies and told they didn’t have to abide by the Constitution of the United States – the foundation of our nation – and could take over by might. People basically pissing on the Constitution for one man… It was beyond unfathomable to me. And five lives have been lost…

Knowing that this particular friend isn’t the only one who might read this with vastly different opinions than me on this election, I say this in rebuttal to your pending remarks should you choose to make any. This has been the most litigated election in the history of our country and no proof of anything substantial enough to change the results of the election has been presented. There have been multiple jurisdictions at many levels, presided over by both Republican and Democratic justices, that rejected case after case. Republican election officials in Georgia have been vilified for doing their jobs. That state election alone has been more scrutinized than any other. I would think the Republican leaders would have rooted out any suspicion of fraud to give their candidate the win. I respect their integrity for not “finding” those votes, but honoring their oaths of office. Further, the Department of Justice said there wasn’t proof of enough fraud to change the results of this election. Consequently the election wasn’t stolen from President Trump. He lost.

Some of the most hypocritical displays during this election challenge were the numerous candidates from Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and other states also elected November 3 having the balls to say THEY were elected fairly, but President-elect Biden wasn’t when they were on the same ballots. Are you kidding me? If President-elect Biden’s win is tainted in that state, then so are all of the others. President Trump began to sow doubts in the election process months before we even went to the polls, positioning himself perfectly to scream fraud if he lost. And scream he has. Sadly no amount of proof will ever convince most people who agree with him.

For those stating there needs to be something done to restore trust in elections, I agree. But that responsibility belongs to the states, not the Federal Government. Each state needs to assess their methodology for deficiencies and make improvements. Disputes belong in the court system, not in the partisan world of Washington DC, adjudicated by someone looking to score points for their next election. I wish more thought of themselves as I heard Senator Sasse from Nebraska describe himself during the Electoral College debates – as servant-leaders. They are there to serve us and not themselves. Members from both parties fail miserably in this regard. If we really want to fight for change – let’s fight for term limits in Congress.

The weight of all these issues is heavy and my prayers are many. I pray for the families of those who died as a result of the riot on Wednesday. I pray for calm over the next two weeks. I pray for President Trump as he moves to the next phase of his life. I pray for President-elect Biden as he takes office during this tumultuous time both politically and with thousands still dying from COVID. I pray for our government and that the choices they make move us forward in ways that benefit all Americans. And I pray for fractured relationships so heavily damaged over these past 4 years between friends and families. In some ways that is the saddest part of all.