Living in Denial
Living in denial: we are actually quite good at it. We are “naturals.”
We are good at turning away from harsh and painful realities, pretending they aren’t there. It’s a common coping strategy. And perfectly normal in the short term when we are hit with unexpected news. We’ve all done it in one fashion or another. Denial is one of those famous “stages of grief.” And there’s been plenty to grieve this year.
We are also good at magical thinking, expecting our fierce desire to bend the course of reality to our hopes, rather than changing our plans for a world wildly out of our control.
Here’s the thing…
Jesus actually counsels living in denial.
As we’ll see this Sunday in worship, it’s just a very different kind of denial. One that can help us face the harsh and painful realities we can’t escape in 2020, and also one that helps us change what can truly be changed. Living in this denial won’t feel very natural… it will feel more like grace.
See you Sunday,
PS – When disasters like Hurricane Laura strike, Week of Compassion will be there. I am so grateful for our Disciples relief, refugee and development mission fund, which partners with impacted communities for long-term healing (a partnership that persists long after the cameras and headlines have left). South Elkhorn supports the work of Week of Compassion each year with a congregational gift. Every year the South Elkhorn family makes additional, individual gifts as well. If you’d like to support the relief efforts through Week of Compassion, you can text WoC to 71777 or click here.
Also, learn more about Week of Compassion’s COVID response here.
PPS – So about that hurricane… remnants of the hurricane may make their way through Kentucky this weekend and interrupt our Drive-In movie plans. We do have a rain date should we need to postpone: September 18. Stay tuned to emails, social media, text messages, or call the church office. You can be sure to get updates by RSVPing as we’ll email those folks first.
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A noticed a quiet, determined young woman who was stabilizing one of the drivers. She stayed with him the entire time, holding his head even as the first responders worked on him and ushered everyone else away. Later I asked her if she was a doctor or medical professional. She said, “I’m a welder. I just started training with OSHA.”
Holy ground. I could almost hear the sound of Moses’ voice (“I’m only a shepherd, but I did stand up to the Egyptians once”). We don’t always realize how God has been preparing us for the unexpected, equipping us in odd and wondrous ways for a life-saving moment.
The driver with the young woman was conscious. In pain. And begged for a mask. I gave him the fresh one in my pocket.
I ran back to the church and returned with a cart of bottled water and masks sewn by church members.
One of the big, muscle-bound first responders didn’t have a mask and needed to work near the face of the now-masked driver. I gave him the one on top of the pile. Later his first-responder buddies thanked me for the pink, floral-printed mask I (unintentionally) chose.
Sweaty brows, life-saving team-work, big smiles. Holy ground.
The church provided waters and masks to the unexpected heroes and first responders who saved two of God’s beloved that day.
Flames. Bare Feet. An unexpected call to act. How could I describe it as anything other than holy ground.
As I pushed the cart with waters, masks, and a fire extinguisher back to the church, I felt the blisters forming on my bare feet. My sandals were somewhere near the wreckage. I’ll get them later.
Holy ground hurts. But it’s worth it.
See you Sunday,
PS – We are planning to gather for outdoor worship again this Sunday (9:30 AM). Of course, rain and storms might derail those best-laid plans. And, if so, you can share in zoom worship at 9:30 AM (the instructions and links are available each week on the website). Zoom worship will reflect what was planned for our outdoor service (prayer, song, scripture, communion) and offers you a chance to see the faces and hear the voices of our church family. I will record and release the sermon separately following the service, which you will then be able to find on the church website, podcast, or social media.
August 2 – Exodus: Return – Exodus 4:1-20
August 9 – Exodus: Redouble – Exodus 5
Find the online prayer list at www.southelkhorncc.org/prayer-
Meet Jim
I’m so excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Jim Abernathy to South Elkhorn! The Cabinet (South Elkhorn’s governing board), with recommendation from the Sabbatical Team and Personnel, unanimously voted to call Jim as Interim Sabbatical Minister for this summer (June 1 – August 31). He will be joining us for worship on May 22 and I can’t wait for you to meet him!
How Long is Compassion?
It’s long-lasting and long-reaching. Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Learn how your gifts make a difference.
Surprise!
During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.
Words that carry us
During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.
Unfair
It seems everyone wants to be more authentic. Jesus points to a challenging counter-intuitive path with a surprising detour through denial.
Holy Ground Hurts
Holy ground hurts. Sandals don’t stay on when you sprint. I didn’t expect actual flames.
Jumping In
I was grateful for Acts of Reconciliation resources provided by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). My heart is hurting and my spirit is stirred by the cries of black and brown people who are facing the crushing weight of structural racism. And not only those who are featured in television interviews and news articles, but also those I know personally: friends, colleagues, and siblings in Christ. I'm listening. I'm learning. I'm praying. I'm sitting with the [...]
The Colors of Christ
Growing up, "whiteness" was mostly invisible to me. I knew that I was white, that others were not, but I mostly didn't think about race. And if I'm honest, when I did think about it, it made me really uncomfortable. I quickly retreated to "colorblindness" (choosing not to see race, and pretending race had no impact on how I treated people). Maybe that's why I still remember when I was shocked by "whiteness"... it was when [...]
What does glitter have to do with God?
This weekend is special. You might just discover what glitter has to do with God. I'm so excited for you to experience the unique gifts of the South Elkhorn youth. The online worship service is led by youth sharing their music, song, prayer, short reflections, a children's moment, communion, and more. You can tune in on Facebook at 10:30AM on Sunday, or anytime this weekend here. Their joy, hope, and creativity lifted and elevated my spirit. I suspect [...]
You might be here
You might quickly realize where you are on the graph below. Perhaps it accurately describes your own roller coaster of emotional well-being, and maybe even our wider social situation. I don't know about you, but after a period of camaraderie and shared heroic effort, I now sense and see the disillusionment growing, circulating, deepening. Perhaps that's where you are. Maybe that's what you are sensing in others, too. Click the photo to enlarge. That disillusionment [...]
Monastic Moment
"We are all monks now." That headline stopped me in my tracks. Whatever else this moment is, what if it might be our "monastic moment"? What if "healthy at home" can be more than a pandemic precaution, but an opportunity for something more. No, this isn't the shallow cheer leading that suggests we should learn a new language, master a new skill, or build something new with a zealous discipline and loads of "free time." [...]
Sunday Morning Zoom Communion
Your invited to share Communion by Zoom on Sundays at 11:30 AM. Pause for a sacred moment to greet the church family, hear the words of institution, share bread and cup with whatever elements you have at home, and receive a blessing. To join, follow the links and use the password here.
Excarnation
You don't just have a body. You are a body. And bodies matter to God. So much so that God "became flesh" in Christ and lived among us (the "incarnation"). So much so that God raised Christ's body. So much so that when Christ was raised and appeared to the disciples and to Thomas he showed them his scarred body--his hands and his side. Bodies matter to God. And in Christ God embraces and relates to who we are [...]
A Blessing You Can’t Turn Back
My heart soared seeing so many faces yesterday. It was Maundy Thursday, and over 40 screens (filled with 70-100 people) gathered via zoom to remember Jesus' last supper, share in communion from our many different rooms and tables, and receive a blessing. If you weren't able to join, I want to share that blessing with you (at the very bottom of this email). I pray these words bless your soul as they have mine. See you (digitally) [...]
What you might be feeling…
I think it's grief. At least that's what I've noticed about myself. I'm grieving. It doesn't feel like the grief I expect when a loved one dies. But it's grief, I'm growing more sure of it every day. I've seen some powerful acknowledgment of this grief. Recently I read a beautiful one by a South Elkhorn Church and choir member and professor at Transylvania University, Jeremy Paden. Maybe you've noticed it, too, even if you have [...]
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