So Many Options

I think Jesus was PC (politically correct) in his language, at least for his day. But by today’s standard it is easy to say that the writers of biblical literature (i.e. scripture) were not so concerned or futuristic. This week’s gospel reading from  John 5: 1-9 lends itself to some concerning language, at least in the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version). Today we might say blind = sight impaired, lame = differently abled. Even the use of the word handicapped has become problematic for many folks.

I much prefer reading from the Inclusive Bible translation as it is a good effort by the Jesuits to replace gendered language and terms that are, in today’s modern culture, potentially harmful.

This week, I happen to be preaching on “rest.” And in the lectionary readings* it takes on a few meanings. Over in Acts 16 Paul is at rest (asleep) when God visits him in a dream. The visit results in Paul’s journey to Phillipi to meet up with Lydia who was also at rest (prayer and meditation).

In the reading from John 5, a differently abled person (notice I didn’t say lame man!) was poolside when Jesus rolls up next to him and invites him into a different kind of rest (inner peace, healing from infirmity, freedom from an oppressive life in mind, body and spirit).

The concept of rest, like much of the Bible, is relative.

Context, social location and nuance are required for an accurate interpretation.

Addressing ableist language is one example of how biblical interpretation has shifted over the centuries. As we have learned to engage each other in deeper, richer and more life-giving community dialogue, we have also begun to address some of the difficult issues ushered in by biblical tunnel vision.

Even in this post you can tell that I am deliberately moving about.

I invite you to read the texts highlighted above and see what you think.

• How do you interpret rest for yourself?
• What do you seek/need/desire from a relationship with the Divine?
• In what ways can you shift your faith life toward a more life-giving engagement with your neighbor?

The ELCA Lutheran church is rooted in radical grace, radical hospitality and is committed to creating a place at the Table for ALL God’s children.

To learn more click here

*”Lectionary reading”s are a series of passages organized and referred to as the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is used by Catholics and most mainline Protestant denominations in weekly worship.

Prodigal Church

The Revised Common  Lectionary for this week focuses on the story of the Prodigal Son. It is a well-known story in the Bible about two brothers who got their knickers in a snit over working for their Dad.

One brother took off with a bunch of loot and went and lived an exciting life, probably Rio de Janeiro or someplace like that.

The other brother stayed back and took care of the family stead, no small job.

As the story goes, eventually Party Boy came to his senses and wanted to come home. Way off in the distance he was spotted and his Dad pulled out the best of everything.

As you might expect, Farm Boy got very upset while Party Boy was very humbled. The point of the story is that Dad welcomed his son back with open arms…

The same way God invites us back…

no matter how far we've strayed.

The Church is currently trying to untangle the conundrum created by opening Christianity to LGBTQiA+ persons. (Scripture is very clear, the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for ALL people.) Hmmm.

Humans are a funny breed.

Sometimes we think we're God.

Of course, we will never admit it, but at times we've all acted like we have power greater than we do.

But no matter how far we stray, no matter what we have done, God invites us back. With open arms.

Reimagine this:

The unaffirming church, the uninviting church, the rejecting church is in the wilderness.

THEY ARE THE PRODIGALS.

Slowly denominations and independent churches are embracing the idea that God's image is reflected in each of us. They are accepting the Truth that we are all created for good and with purpose. The purpose of the Church is to honor God with our traditions and to build community.

This week when you read the Prodigal Son story I encourage you to tilt the lens just a little bit:

   Imagine the Prodigal coming home is the now-affirming church, the formerly-rejecting church, the people whose hearts have been broken for God and who now repent. They  have come to see God in full Light. They are coming back to the foot of the Cross to ask for God's forgiveness for the harm they have caused God's children.

And like a loving parent who greets their child with open arms, God will invite the church back into the fold. Grace, forgiveness, and restoration take place.

It's a slow crawl, this reimagining. And it takes effort. But no more effort than Jesus put forth to save us all a seat at the table.

To read more about affirming Lutheran churches in the ELCA click here

To read more about the Lutheran Human Sexuality Social Statement click here

To read more from Dawn Bennett click here

Jesus: Execution on Death Row

Ash Wednesday was yesterday and I had the blessing to curate an Art Exhibit in conjunction with an Ashes service. The Art Exhibit was not just any Art Exhibit. It displayed hand-drawn and oil painted canvas scrolls depicting the Twelve Stations of the Cross. In addition, was a stand-alone canvas of the risen Christ.

This description may not stand out to you either. However, it's important to note that the picture and the
scrolls are the mastery of prisoners who live on Tennessee's Death Row.

How ironic is that! Death Row prisoners painting the story of Jesus on his journey to Death Row.

Let that sink in.

Jesus’s death was a State-sanctioned execution. We don't often think about Jesus being incarcerated
or being executed. We have a more touchy-feely version...one of gratitude that he died for our sins
and redeemed us, to secure us a seat at the Table of the Lord in a heavenly kingdom. Now, I'm not
debating Jesus’s death, or even how he died, or even that he willingly went to the cross on our behalf.

Scripture is quite clear about this and Jesus is in agreement. But, Jesus did ask for a stay of execution.
Three times in fact! (Matthew 26 “Father, let this cup pass from me…”) His stay was not granted and
Jesus was executed.

A few questions to ponder: How does  the death penalty impact society today? How is it that we
explain to our children in any more, or less I should say, graphic detail that someone is executed
by State sanction?

We already have a Savior and we don't need another.

There will be no hand drawn and painted scrolls and there will be no portrait of the Risen prisoner
when someone is executed by electric chair or lethal injection.

If we believe in a God who came to redeem the world, then we can sit securely that our executed will
return to their Maker.

It does no good, in my opinion, to put our children in a bubble and not talk to them about mass
incarceration. Not if we are going to talk to them about Lent -- a steadfast faithful tradition where
we teach them about what a wonderful thing Jesus did.

Most Protestant Christians and Catholics and Orthodox believers walked around yesterday with a
black cross on their forehead.

We are reminded of our mortality.

We are reminded of our broken lives and our broken world.

We are reminded that we are in need of something good and holy to reconcile us back to  our Maker.

I'm reminded of the goodness in the world when I look at these beautiful scrolls and this beautiful
portrait of the Risen Christ.

I'm reminded of what is good and pure and holy in this world.

Human hands dedicated their time, talent and treasure...from Death Row... people who shouldn't
really even give a damn...but still do.

As you journey through Lent this season, I invite you to take a deeper look  at the underside of life.

The side that makes you uncomfortable.

The side that makes you want to look away.

The side that makes you want to shelter your children.

And then, I invite you to LEAN IN  TO LENT.

The Stations of the Cross remind us that Christ willingly died for ALL people, regardless of
their station in life.

For more information on the Lutheran Church (ELCA) click here
For more information on the Lutheran Church concerning Criminal Justice click here
For more information on Dawn Bennett click here

Full or Filled

I am often touched by the willingness of people who return to their place of upbringing...those who carry back to others what was given them for their journey.

This week, Jesus does just that. He has returned to Nazareth, the place of his upbringing, He's preaching to his friends and loved ones. He went home to spend time together. They know that he has been out spreading good news across the land, performing miracles and such. All they want upon his return apparently, is some of what he has shared with others.

I suppose it is not an unrealistic expectation. But what happened to the relationship of mutuality? When Jesus declares ancient prophecy has been fulfilled in their hearing the Nazarenes get a little sideways because they are expecting signs and wonders and all they get, at least in their opinion, is a sermon full of words.

It begs the question, are the townspeople full of the love that they helped produce? Or have they allowed their disappointment and unmet expectations to fill them with misguided rage?

Perhaps it is, that they don't realize that their lives are full, and Jesus returned to remind them of that. They have everything they need to go about the work in their community taking care of those in need...to be light in the darkness.

How often it is in our own context that we drive up to the red light and witness a street vendor or a panhandler and think why are you out here? Certainly you have everything you need, if not in your possession at least available to you through Public Services. We allow ourselves to be filled with disgust and hardness of heart.

For us who have been raised in the Christian tradition, we would do well to remember that the Good News of our faith comes back into our lives on a daily basis. Many times a day, actually.

If we remember our roots, we can be full of hospitality and grace. We can be full of love and mercy. And in our fullness, we are equipped upon arriving at the red light...to share our gifts to help fill someone else's life.

For information on how you can help fill other's lives in Nashville, TN click here.

If you are looking for ways to fill others regionally or nationally click here

Up Here

Up here

Up here is a place where all God's children live.

Up here is a place where we may cause hurt or pain to our siblings.

But up here is also the place where it's not hard to say “I'm sorry please forgive me.”

Up here is where the first response is the only response -

which is, “I accept your apology and I forgive you.”

It's difficult being human and having to climb the ladder to live up here.

It seems like a hard place to get too.

It seems like it's a long way away.

And for some of us, it may feel like a long way from home.

But you know, we all have the opportunity to pick up and move anytime we please.

It is our God given right to search for love, embrace love, and give love.

Up here is the place where that happens.

It's the spiritual realm, or what some call the fourth dimension.

We all have a spirit-self -

but not all of us tap into the power that comes to us in our spirit-self.

Up here is where we have to rise to -

to access our power and shift gears to respond in love.

Up here is where we meet our Maker.

Up here is where we meet like-minded siblings.

Up here every child of God has a seat with their name on it.

Up here is a place where all God's children live.

"Thou Shalt Not Steal"

I read the most interesting perspective on stealing. It started with the declaration that whatever we have is not ours anyway, so that makes stealing doubly wrong. I believe it's accurate to say that when we think of stealing, and the fact that it's considered wrong, we naturally think of tangible objects. We can't steal stuff from our neighbors, we can't rob banks, we can't "sample" fruit from the produce section. Zilch. Zero. Nada.

As I began to travel down the dusty road of my thoughts, I began to think to myself, but what about the intangible things people own: our thoughts, our feelings, our identity. What about that? How do those things fit into the equation of stealing and God and all that stuff. Here's my thought:

If everything we have  and everything we own is indeed not necessarily ours but on loan, as in it was given to us (a big prim and proper religious term is bestowed upon us) then our identity also is a gift...and given. The ability to be a free thinker is given to us. The desire to love and be loved is a gift given to us. Stealing is not allowed. Who are are, what we stand for, how we see ourselves...it's all a gift given to us. We are not allowed to steal another person's identity. Let me be clear here, I'm not talking about their online identity (although clearly that's wrong too) I'm talking about their gender identity, sexual identity, how they see themselves in this world and how they expect to be seen.

There are lots of hate groups who have decided that to "be LGBTQ" is wrong and those of us who identify under that acronym need to  be"corrected". (For those who are unfamiliar LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer). Folks who align with L-G-B are talking about their sexuality (very different and not related to gender); those who align with T are referring to their gender (male, female, both, neither); those who align with Q could be referring to either their sexual or gender identity. Further information can be found at PFLAG.org or HRC.org because this is not the blog post to go into this in depth.

Back to the stealing thing. When God (however you align with God or what represents a divine authority in your world) says stealing is wrong it is an abomination (another big scary religious word) and God cries. ALL of everything in what we call this world is made from the abundance of a divine authority who far exceeds any human capacity or authority. 

When an organization or a person steals the hopes and dreams, the hard personal effort or blood-sweat-and-tears personal commitment from another person, a crime [against humanity] has been committed. We are what we are and have what we have as a gift. None of us owns any of this. We leave this "world" with the same as we came into it with - nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada.

When a person decides someone else is wrong for living into their full authenticity (i.e. sexual or gender identity) and advances are made toward taking it away, i.e. stealing it, we are no longer living as we are instructed. When someone robs another of a life worth living, a dream and a hope of a better life, a gesture of giving and receiving love...God cries. We are not allowed to steal.

Thou Shalt Not Steal. Not property. Not grapes. Not a person's identity. Not a person's joy.

Mind your business. Mind your manners. Mind yourself.

Hollowed Out

Hollowed Out

It’s hard to go through life feeling like a carved pumpkin. Sometimes the faces can be scary. Sometimes they are funny, but never does it feel good to have your guts ripped out. 

What I have found to be helpful in these times is to write a gratitude list.

It may be hard to find things that I am grateful for, but that’s when the real digging begins.

Dust off the shovel and till the soil of your life.

Are you breathing? Have you been given a new day in which to make free choices? Do you have ONE friend in whom you can confide?

It’s a good day.

When your guts are lying on the ground and your seeds are scattered, that is the time to look for the remnant that remains. Life can be hard.

But, if there is breath in your body, you have found a shred of gratitude.

Most pumpkins wind up with a candle inside to light up the darkness. This is the time to take your hollowed out self and bring in some light. Sit. Rest. Glow.

It’s hard to go through life feeling like a carved pumpkin, hollowed out. 

But finding the little things in life to be grateful for: breath, free choice, the comfort of a friend…it’s a good day.

It's A Good Friday

It's later in the month, later than I'd like it to be actually. I've been waiting for inspiration to give you something I felt was worth reading. It finally came today. It's true, it's real, it's honest. It's a page from my journal this morning. I know I'm not the only one in this quagmire, maybe that's why I felt it's worth reading. Happy Easter to all of humanity.

.....

"It’s a Good Friday!

Abba, so much is changing, but you have stayed the same. The tomb is empty this morning. No one knows where you are or where you went.

This season of Lent has been so incredibly painful. I’ve been so far from you – and so close to you. I’m scared, I’m isolated, I’m exhausted, I’m angry, I’m so incredibly sad. I’m eager, I’m demanding, I’m questioning, I’m forgetful, I’m desperate. I have anxiety; I’ve traveled far and wide to find peace – to create peace – to upset peace – and to enjoy the peace. It’s Good Friday, and like the rest of the fold, I’m seeking because the tomb is empty and I don’t know where you went.

Ferguson is still looking for you. Naples says they have you, the golden roads are supposed to prove that. Nashville sings all about you, but the people are still dying of hunger and thirst.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to see you in everything and be grateful, because honestly, when I don’t get what I want (and the way I perceive I need it to be), I think you either suck or you’re looking at someone else’s life. I mean, there’s lots of us down here trying to figure this crazy shit out. Maybe you got me mixed up?

It’s supposed to rain here Sunday – I’m looking forward to that. Everything is better after some cleansing rain. The sun will surely rise and shine, that’s all it knows how to do. Thanks for that too.

Thanks for never taking your eye off me. I’ll try to reciprocate that a bit better today. I love you."

Welcome Home Prodigal Me

Welcome home, prodigal self. There’s a story in the Bible about a son who took off with all of the blessings his dad gave him. His brother was really jealous because he stayed behind as the responsible one. The prodigal, however, took off and had a great time, but ultimately rendering himself broke, hungry and without adequate shelter.

He came to the end of himself. He made the brave decision to go home. As the story is told, the father saw him coming back from out in the distance and decided to throw a party.

Many of us have been the prodigal in our own lives and have had a tendency to punish ourselves time and time again without ceasing. We drive us to the end of ourselves. Then, in a very narcissistic but self-imposing way we cry why is my life such crap? How did I get here? Is it ever going to get better?

How about this. What if, you saw yourself, your prodigal self that is, off in the distance and you decided to throw yourself a party. Just as the biblical version tells it. Pull out the fine red robe, the signet ring, the fatted calf! All of it! Because you know what? When you’ve been to the end of yourself and you survive it – it’s worth a party.

The journey to the center of our birth, as my prior January post explains, is a long and sometimes treacherous road. It very rarely goes as planned and for most of us, there are lots of bumps and bruises (and maybe a few stitches and broken bones) along the way. So, when you make it back, you’ve earned a celebration.

What if I have no one to greet me, you think? YOU are there, are you not? That’s the only greeting you really need. After all, no one knows the details of the journey quite like you.

Listen, all I’m suggesting is that you treat yourself like the royalty you ARE, instead of adopting the idea of what you think you ought to be. Every one of us is a diamond in the rough. The number of cuts in a diamond determines the glisten. Well, there are never going to be enough “cuts” to make what you perceive, but the “cuts” you do have, the one’s that make you shine like the gem you are, you already have them. Every last one, you earned them. Along your road, remember?

Anyone who says they are not a prodigal, or has not had a prodigal experience is a liar.  Or an alien. Part of being a human being is coming to the end of yourself at certain times in life. Then, having to figure out how to get back on track and move forward.

Let’s talk a minute about the prodigal’s brother. He wasn’t perfect either. Jealousy is not handsome (or pretty, ladies). It is possible part of the reason you had a prodigal moment is because of rejection or neglect. Maybe you got the short end of a sharp stick. It happens. We’re all prodigals. We’re all humans (not aliens). So, when you turn to go back home, if you’re met with a negative Nate or Nellie, just walk on by.

The robe is yours to wear, the signet ring is your size and is yours to wear. The fatted calf has been prepared with sides and desserts, in your honor. Eat, drink and celebrate. You made it back. Now, shine on you crazy diamond.

Journey To the Center of My Birth

   Happy New Year! For some 2016 has been declared as the turn-around year. For others, it will be a year of traveling in the same direction, only deeper, and perhaps at a faster clip. And, that may or may not be a good thing. Time will tell.

                For me, I’m hoping for a bit of both actually. You see, for me, 2016 is going to be a year of great change. And it won’t all be good change. Or will it? Change is one of the only guarantees in the Universe. We can embrace it, reject it, rail against it, work in harmony with it, question it or just observe it. Whatever we choose to do, change is inevitable. In Ecclesiastes 3:4, the Bible talks about a time for all things under the sun. I believe this is true and I also believe that not all change is looked upon as welcomed. For part of this year, I will have that attitude I expect.

                We are each on a private journey to discover who we are, in the midst of where we are. Where we are physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. We must learn to look upon this journey as a necessity rather than a burden, even when the journey is through a dry and weary land. Being a human being is the most excruciating journey we will ever encounter. This is a strong statement and I admit that. But, selah (from Hebrew, meaning, “pause and think on this”). 

                If we are a people whose belief and trust are in something or someone bigger than us, then we are sure to resonate with that infamous lyric so eloquently stated by Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find, you get what you need.” Believers in God will undoubtedly admit that there are times we wonder where the hell God is in a particular situation. When we can’t see the forest through the trees. Sometimes we can’t even see the trees. But God has clearer vision. That’s where our hope lies.

                The journey to the center of our birth is a requirement for all of us, to figure out where we came from, where we are and more decidedly, where we want to go. In 2016 many of us will travel through fire to get to our next place. For some, a smooth sail down a quiet stream will be in store. Others will be led into a desert and will likely feel the cracked ground beneath their feet and wonder again, where the hell is God? But, have no lingering fear. Notice, I said lingering. Fear is inevitable, even with the good changes that will come our way.

    I think it’s fair to say change and fear live in tandem.

   (I know you’ve heard of the fear of failure. But, have you heard of the fear of success?)

                One important adoption for the coming year of change will be to acquire some type of calming discipline. For some yoga, others running or extreme sports will be needed. Yet for others, prayer and meditation. (Oops! I accidentally typed medication….I corrected the typo, but realized that for some it may very well include medication…and if that’s what it takes, that’s okay too, under a doctor’s supervision of course.) The important thing here is that the journey to the center of your birth will require from you the hardest part of the journey…a decision.

                A few years ago a great philosopher gave me some life changing advice (okay, it was my older brother actually). He said, “Everyone else has an opinion, you have a decision.”

   Here I am again this year looking at some continuing big-life changes. As I recalled that advice, I believe it is still powerful and still true. My decisions may only make sense to me. Your decisions may only make sense to you. To others they may look like delusion or risky. That’s their opinion. I have to decide what it takes for me to be able to travel my journey (and so do you).

                As you look over your new 2016 calendar, you’re only about seven days or so in. You’ve got about another 355 days or so of change waiting for you. So what’s it going to be? Embrace? Reject? Question? Rail? Walk in harmony? Observe? You decide. Let the naysayers and haters have their opinions. Let the loved ones and supporters have their opinions. There’s nothing you can do about what they think of your circumstance or your decision to act (or not).

   They have an opinion. YOU HAVE A DECISION.

                I’d love to tell you to stand tall and face your fears! To roar like a lion! To fight, fight fight! But, the best advice might just be to shut the hell up and let time pass. To cry and lick your wounds in private. To pray and just keep hoping in a brighter day. See, I just have an opinion too. I also have a decision, and it’s no less scary than yours. Being a writer doesn’t grant me any special passes, only a vessel to talk about my life on a public platform, and hope that another beautiful human is somehow inspired.

                The journey to the center of your birth never ends. The journey started before you left the womb and it will continue until you return to the Dust. If you don’t have the moxie to be brave today, don’t fret. Bravery is a relative term (the magazines and media will tell you otherwise though). If you need to retreat today, please do. If you need to run and rage, do so (just don’t hurt anyone else in the process). If you need to stand up for yourself, stand. If you need to sit quietly, sit. There is a time and a season for everything under the sun. Just remember, it’s your journey to the center of your birth. We all have an opinion and we all have a decision. Do what your Spirit calls you to do. Be well. Be loved. Love.

                Be the most authentic version of you you can be today. Don’t lose hope in a brighter tomorrow though. Hope is a vital supply needed for the journey. Find your hope, keep your hope. It’s our birthright. 

The Journey

As I drive down the interstate toward Knoxville, I am caught in my thoughts about the inbound traffic directly to my left.

As the cars have piled up, four lanes wide and going on eight or nine miles now, I began to think about what those people think about as they poke along the highway. 

The interesting thing is as the newcomers approach the traffic jam, they have no idea of what is in store in front of them. I on the other hand, know full well what is in store for them, because I just spent the last several minutes driving past it. Multiple accidents, police lights, wrecker trucks and lots of people pulled over  every which way. 

That got me thinking about life. My life.  Your life. 

We don’t know what is ahead of us, but yet we join the traffic in an effort to move forward in our life toward our destination.  We don’t know how long it will take us to get there. And we don’t know any of the future barriers that could try and get in the way of us reaching our destination. 

It doesn’t stop us though. We still get in the car, put on our seatbelt, crank up the music and drive. We do it every single day. We wake up with hopes and dreams about what is in store for our day today. 

We don’t know any more about our journey today then we knew yesterday. Well, that’s not entirely so. Yesterday is behind us and we can now see the good decisions and the poor decisions that we made that may or may not contribute to today’s journey. That’s part of the human experience. Journeying out, venturing into unknown territory. 

Risk is involved and there is no way to get away from it. 

That leaves us largely dependent upon our society around us. There is no way to get away from that either; however, it is our responsibility to decide what avenues to take.

Boundary setting is one such avenue. A healthy set of boundaries about what is allowable and what is not will help us determine what type of decision we want to make on our journey today. And just like the people driving in inbound traffic, we are on a journey of outbound traffic. 

The journey is still ahead. The signs are posted. The choices are there. It is up to us to put our foot on the pedal and drive. If we take a wrong turn, turn around. If we can’t turn around, we can get off at the next exit.

In either instance, we will have multiple opportunities to change the course of our day.

Enjoy the ride, life is about the journey.

Me or My Mask, the Beat Goes On

So, it’s Halloween! Last night I went to a trunk-or-treat at a local church. Thankfully we got there early! By the time we left the people were wrapped around the building. And I’m not kidding. There were costumes of all kinds. Kids and grown-ups alike. Before we left I read up on the activity and found that no scary costumes were allowed. That’s fine because there’s plenty of scary stuff in the world without having to make up additional stuff. Right!?! Anyway, now it’s the morning after and I’ve been looking over the pictures we took. The one of my husband with the clown, well, that one will live on in history! We had one taken with Batman and there was another of a man whose costume was himself sitting on the shoulders of a bear. Very witty and quite impressive, as far as homemade costumes go.

This morning my grandson was looking at the picture of us and Batman. He said, “Look, I’m a REAL vampire! My eyes are red!” (He’s 5 so he doesn’t know about red eye.) But he does know about costumes and masks and the fact that they are only pretend. Not real. He does understand that when we have a costume or a mask on that there is a “real me” under or behind it. What he doesn’t know [yet] is that for many people, a costume or a mask is a way of life. Yes. It’s true. For many of us in this crazy world, we don’t feel safe enough in our circles to be our authentic self.

In the past week alone I have had conversations with people affected by discrimination, bigotry, judgementalism, hate and just plain unkindness. What’s the deal? The deal is we are ALL hurting. There’s not a person on earth who has not been hurt and caused hurt. If you think you are absolved of this dirty deed, think again. We ALL have the capacity to inflict harm. Even children. This week my friend who has spent several years in prison told me that he is sad because life passed him by while he was gone. The truth is, life didn’t pass him by and he wasn’t gone. He lived all those days out, just not how he would have liked. The beat goes on. I spend time in a middle school working with youth in an after-school enrichment program. This particular day the program was over and our group, along with the other groups, were waiting for the the parents and bus driver to arrive. One of my students was minding his own business when another student approached him and poked him, called him some names (which he then repeated to the ten or so kids standing around them), laughed and turned away. This went on for about three minutes, back and forth. My student, a tall somewhat heavy young man (for his age) didn’t voice a reply. Instead, as I watched his face he flinched, multiple times. I began to count the flinches…1,2,3,4. Every time the other boy poked him physically or verbally [my] youth flinched. I silently yelled out, “Don’t take that sh@#!” The beat goes on.

Yesterday I participated in a conference entitled Adolescent Sexual Responsibility. It was very informative. I deepened my knowledge of sexual violence in the youth population, LGBTQ issues (of which I am an active advocate in the mission field), parental responsibility and advocacy resources for teens and families. The event kicked off with a youth advisory panel during which youth were very forthcoming about how they wish to interact with adults. They gave us keen insights about their knowledge and experience of sex, conflict and responsibility. They affirmed that they DO in fact value the input of their parents, teachers and caretakers……”so don’t give up!”…..they told us. I remember saying they same things as a youth. I wanted my parents to know what I knew and what I still needed to learn [contrary to how I may have behaved at the time]. What I experienced most is that today’s youth are a wise and talented bunch and they have wonderful additions to impart to our world. If we [adults] will just take the time to stop and notice them. Then take the next step to hear them. Then, to LISTEN to them. The beat goes on.

Back to the costumes and masks. Which face do you wear every day? Is it the face that requires a bunch of makeup to cover up the scars of hurt and pain from your past or present? Or do you let it be shown, the real you. The you that has experience in this world. No matter how scary it is sometimes, you have much to give to the world by way of your life’s experience. Age is NOT a factor. What outfit do you don? Do you dress up in costumes that only reflect the you you want people to see? Do you dress in clothes that create a fantasy life? Or, do you dress in “plain clothes”? The clothes that suit you? The clothes that reflect who you are INSIDE and OUT, clothes that tell the world you have some age and some miles, clothes that represent a person of vibrant color and detail. Our lives are a tapestry. With each life lesson, hurt, pain, success, failure, party, grief, accomplishment and good deed, we color our world and the world of those around us. When we release our colors into the world, the world absorbs them and the painting is changed.

Today, after you collect your candy, or rob your kid’s candy bucket, after you attend the party and enjoy the music, take off your costume. Take off your mask. Remember that party and candy is just a way to pass the time. Put your beautiful face back on , don YOUR own clothes and color your world with the people, events, causes and things that matter to YOU most. It’s YOUR life. The most beautiful mask to wear is NO mask at all. The beat goes on.