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There were three high-profile mass shootings in our country within the past two weeks: at The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, at Club Q in Colorado Springs (read Bishop Elaine's blog in response to this shooting by clicking here), and at a WalMart in Chesapeake, Virginia. And within the bounds of our Annual Conference, there was a grisly and mysterious murder of four students at the University of Idaho, Moscow.
During this past week we also celebrated our national holiday of Thanksgiving and began the church season of Advent, lighting the candle of Hope and reading from Isaiah about the promise of peace.
How do we hold these realities together? Or do we? We are all experiencing an ongoing trauma-response, whether we know anyone who has been murdered or not. Many of us are living through tragedies closer to home which don't make the national news. We are all prone to the natural human responses of fight, flight, and dissociation. How do we respond faithfully -- for our own sake, for the sake of our families, for the sake of our communities and nation?
What we believe matters. What we say matters. Whom we include matters. Our faith may not protect us from the human tragedy, but it does ground us in a reality that inhabits our human vulnerability and grants us worth and dignity. We remember and we anticipate the arrival of Emmanuel, God-with-us, who came -- who comes -- in vulnerability and whose power is love. Dare we believe it? Dare we live it? I think it is our only hope.
For this advent season I am asking God for the strength and grace to claim the intention expressed by Howard Thurman:
The Sacrament of Christmas
By Howard Thurman
I make an act of faith toward all humankind,
Where doubts would linger and suspicions brood.
I make an act of joy toward all sad hearts,
Where laughter pales and tears abound.
I make an act of strength toward feeble things,
Where life grows dim and death draws near.
I make an act of trust toward all life,
Where fears preside and distrusts keep watch.
I make an act of love toward friend and foe,
Where trust is weak and hate burns bright.
I make a deed to God of all my days —
And look out on life with quiet eyes.
May this Advent season draw us closer to Emmanuel -- and closer to each other.
Blessings to you all in Christ Jesus,
 
Linda Grund-Clampit
Cascadia District Administrator
linda@umoi.org
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