Musings: On Hope in Dangerous Territory

On Wednesday morning Rasta and I will head to Halifax for the AST Homecoming Reunion at which Dianna Butler Bass will be the guest speaker. I have heard Dianna speak on two other occasions and it is always an enjoyable and inspiring experience.

The titles of her lectures and workshop are as follows: Being Grateful Now: How to Find Thanks in Difficult Days, followed by a workshop, Speak Up and Speak Out: Speaking Faith Today and the final public lecture, Gratitude as a Social Practice: What Do We Want?  

The organizers of the event say that Dianna has indicated that all of the presentations are be inspired by her three books, Grateful, Grounded, and Freeing Jesus, and that each event will build on the one before so it will be a fine 3-course meal!  

I am excited. Rasta is excited for a few walks in Point Pleasant Park!

I am excited to be in the company of others who are struggling with the crazy that seems to be the norm these days – and who are trying to maintain hope and sustain the struggle for justice – in the face of continued injustices and contempt of the US Supreme Court by the current occupant of the White House, never mind his aspirations to be named Pontif of the Roman Catholic Church and the support others have offered to this sacrilegious idea!

Cameron Trimble in “An (almost) Daily Meditation” Piloting Faith, that arrive in my inbox at 4:02AM, quoted Walter Brueggemann who once said, “When religion is co-opted by empire, it ceases to be prophetic and becomes chaplaincy to the status quo.”

Cameron went on to write, “That is what’s at stake here—not just a silly image, but the slow erosion of what is sacred. When power dresses in robes and claims God’s endorsement, history tells us we are in dangerous territory.”

Yesterday Sackville United welcomed back into our midst Larry and Mary Shaw who are in the process of emigrating to Canada from the USA and I could literally feel their relief at being among us again. Welcome home Larry and Mary! Let us navigate this dangerous territory together with love, justice, mercy, compassion and gratitude.

Faithfully,

Lloyd

Looking Ahead

As a result of illnesses and cancellation of appointments, and a need to have some documents signed in the presence of a notary, I have made a few changes to my schedule for Monday and Tuesday.

Today I will be in Sackville. Once documents are signed in the presence of the notary, I will meet with Julia for our weekly staff meeting and then I will begin work on a reflection for Sunday May 11th which is of course Mother’s Day. After lunch I will do visits at the Sackville Memorial Hospital followed by two pastoral visits. This evening at 6:30PM I will gather with the Central United Church Council for their regular Council Meeting.

On Tuesday following a meeting with the Music Directors (9AM) and the Lectionary Study Group (10:30AM) and a pastoral meeting over lunch, I will head to Moncton for two pastoral visits and visits at the Moncton Hospital.

I am in Halifax from Wednesday until Saturday morning. In addition to attending the events of Homecoming Week and connecting with fellow alumni of the Atlantic School of Theology I have promised Rasta a walk or two in Point Pleasant Park (weather permitting) and maybe I’ll drive down to Wolfville one night to share dinner with Justin and Emily to celebrate Justin’s new job with Natural Forces as Pad Manager. My oldest child is fulfilling his childhood dream of being a ‘worker guy’ and building wind turbines!