Heavy: Finding “Our Moral Center”

These days are heavy. As I dropped Clivie off at school this morning, I cranked up my “Strong Women” playlist in the car to lift my spirits after listening to a few minutes of the impeachment hearings, coverage of the school shooting in Santa Clarita, and news of the Supreme Court deliberations about DACA I also have one of the scriptures I memorized with Grandma running repeatedly through my mind-In perfect King James English.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6: 12

“Spiritual Wickedness in high places.” It jumps out at me repeatedly- in a stomach twisting Lectio Divina. The work we are called to on these heavy days is not new. We will fill the food barrel for South Hayward Parish many times over to feed the hungry in the community. We will check in with our neighbors to see if they are ok- especially our immigrant neighbors. We continue in our unwavering support of the LGBTQIA+ Community -Our healing group will meet and offer laying on of hands for those in need, the choir will rehearse and lift us up in worship. And we will immerse ourselves in the justice seeking, boundary breaking, healing, loving, Jesus of the Gospel of Luke in coming weeks. As we do, we will continue to lift up the values of Jesus (which are by default our values). We will keep confronting “spiritual wickedness in high places” (and in our own hearts) from many angles in worship, bible study, and conversation. “North Carolina Moral Mondays” founder and leader Rev. William J Barber II has suggested “This is no longer about left or right. Our work now is about finding our moral center.” And we will continue to search for and stand in that moral center as Jesus followers - in new ways and in old.

There are more comforting and challenging scriptures welling up in my heart on these heavy days as well. Words and values from Jesus in his “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 6) that confronted the “wickedness in high (and low) places” in his day and ours.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn,* for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

As we stand in those radical values as followers of Jesus: Blessed are the immigrants and refugees, may we protect and care for them (Especially our DACA youth). Blessed are those who work for sane gun laws so the violence can cease. Blessed are those who are afraid of losing their health insurance, may they be healed and cared for. Blessed are those who don’t have food, may we all share what we have. Blessed are those who still value facts and truth as a starting place. Blessed are those who are working to dismantle white privilege; may we tear down the walls our ancestors have created and we benefit from. Blessed are those in the LGBTQIA+ community, may we all unmask “religious freedom” that parades as bigotry, blessed are the children who have been separated from their parents at the border- May they be freed- and blessed are they who shout #BlackLivesMatter because they do.*

I am blessed to be walking with you on this journey (even and especially when it is heavy) I’ll see you on Sunday-

Much love --Rev. Jeanne

*I’m indebted to the thoughts of Rev William J Barber II for

this meditation on the beatitudes.

As we stand in those radical values as followers of Jesus: Blessed are the immigrants and refugees, may we protect and care for them (Especially our DACA youth). Blessed are those who work for work for sane gun laws so the violence can cease. Blessed are those who are afraid of losing their health insurance, may they be healed and cared for. Blessed are those who don’t have food, may we all share what we have. Blessed are those who still value facts and truth as a starting place. Blessed are those who are working to dismantle white privilege; may we tear down the walls our ancestors have created and we benefit from. Blessed are those in the LGBTQIA+ community, may we all unmask “religious freedom” that parades as bigotry, blessed are the children who have been separated from their parents at the border- May they be freed- and blessed are they who shout #BlackLivesMatter because they do.*

I am blessed to be walking with you on this journey (even and especially when it is heavy) I’ll see you on Sunday-

Much love --Rev. Jeanne

*I’m indebted to the thoughts of Rev William J Barber II for

this meditation on the beatitudes.