2022 politics & leadership the whole & simple gospel

January 22, 2022

While there has never been a local mask ordinance where I live, the grocery stores have very clear signs posted out front, indicating that masks are required to shop. Nearly every time I’ve shopped for food over the last two years, I have seen someone from my church unmasked. One was even wearing a hoodie with our church’s name and logo on it. I feel a little gross writing about it here, so many months later, unable to say I made peace with it or even addressed it with people.

I’m still new here. I’ve only known pandemic life here. For many at my church, my work at the hospital represents an agenda that feels scary and threatening. I am not sure how to form deep, meaningful relationships with Christians here fast enough to earn the relational equity required to run into someone at the grocery store and say, “Hey, friend. I notice you don’t wear a mask, at church or anywhere else. But they’re required here at this store. Did you know we are down 60 staff at the hospital this week? Please, follow this grocery store’s simple request for the sake of your community. I know you probably think you don’t need one or you hate wearing one and faith over fear and all of that… but my actual skin is breaking down from being in an N95 ten hours a day and I have faith that you can cover your nose and mouth for a grocery trip or an hour of worship. Please.”

Forget vaccines. Don’t worry – I don’t want to talk about those, either. But I do not understand folks who claim Jesus and won’t wear a mask, when asked, during a pandemic. I will continue to love them and serve them and worship alongside them, but I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to the make the connection between following Jesus and refusing to follow a local business ordinance.

The science has never promised that wearing a mask will keep me safe from disease, but that masks keep me from hurting others. This has been proven time and time again, an argument only strengthened as we drag on through a second winter with record low cases of flu, head colds, and stomach viruses. Who wants to bring those bugs back? Not me.

I cannot find evidence in Scripture for defying a public health mandate, ordinance, or even small business rule. I don’t see a single example of Christians maintaining control or influence of a region. In fact, the first church was underground, in the era of Roman empire. I see both Jesus and Paul reminding Christians over and over again that this world is not our permanent home and we are to live in it as harmoniously as possible. This video both did and did not surprise me, as hundreds of CPAC attendees cheered for personal liberties and property rights, and then booed when asked to don a mask out of respect for personal liberties and property rights. Imagine Jesus getting halfway through the beatitudes in Matthew 5, and the crowd boos as he tells them to go an extra mile when compelled to walk one. Who knows? Maybe it happened. Jesus’ words were often received as scandalous and nonsensical.

I wrote most of this a year ago and unfortunately, it still holds true. I’m not as angry or shocked as I once was, but I still regularly find myself disappointed and confused. It’s getting harder and harder to recognize the Jesus of the gospels in the Christians of America.

2022

January 21, 2022

I have found no better answer for a long day than a long night’s sleep. A fully belly on the way to hibernation helps, too.

Uncategorized

January 20, 2022

Scents help us find comfort in old memories and creativity in new ones. This is why I’ve recently boxed up my two beloved bottles of perfume, choosing instead to start over. I have in my possession several samples of scents, scents which are unfamiliar to my surroundings and current stage of life. My nose and I are ready for a new thing.

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January 18, 2022

For parents in the thick of the baby and toddler years: time truly does fly.

We’ve been spending weekends hanging with our youngest for years now, without really having to do a thing for them.

There are new challenges here, in the same way those sleepless nights and endless days back then had their own magic.

Each and every season, sweet and sour in its own way.

2022

January 16, 2022

There was a week one summer, when two different women gave me the last of their apple harvests. Another handed over several bunches of kale, and a few more gave me tips on who to find in town to help with hemming some pants.

This fall, I discovered a coworker of who mine can basically sew in her sleep. She’s mended and tailored my clothes between shifts better than any small business storefront shop.

One Friday night in winter, my family gathered around the table and shared exciting events from the kids’ market at school. One showed me a hat she bought that someone’s mama had whipped together the night before.

I am signed up for a painting class next week and everyone who knows me has snickered sweetly at the thought. There is an entire collection of my artwork the kids have kept for a rainy day. We still can’t figure out if my drawing of a horse was actually a dog or a bus.

Here’s the thing: I’ve gardened and taken sewing classes and attempted to knit and paint. These things simply don’t come easily to me, nor do they hold my attention long enough to want to become an expert. I am, however, really good at putting together an outfit and planning a trip and keeping a few houseplants alive and being a nurse. I am learning to love my lane. I’m also getting comfortable enough at driving in it to look over and honk and wave at the women in the other ones. They’re doing great, too.