One of the gifts I received on my ordination day was a book written by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest, titled “Everything Belongs”. I have learned a lot from this man about the contemplative, spiritual life. Learning is fun and exciting! Books we read, conversations, pearls of sage wisdom we hear, even asking “Siri” a question on our phone. When it comes to social graces and human interactions (not texting), we have much to impart to younger generations. As for us older ones, we are trying to learn to see everyone as God sees them. There is much angst in us about people identifying as trans-gender, using the plural “us” to refer to themselves, and more letters being added to LGBTQ—. What does being made in the image of God mean anymore? What does it look like? Which extreme do we migrate toward: complete tolerance and acceptance or calling out sin?

The answer is best derived, in my possibly flawed opinion, in loving and serving the least among us, the misunderstood. Extending the grace and love of God that none of us deserve. In the final analysis, Richard Rohr writes that commandments, perfect church attendance, or papal infallibility will not mean as much as how we see the other. This is why I get so incensed when people rage about “illegal” immigrants or those they perceive as a threat to their well-being or tax base. “They don’t play by the rules”. That’s the Pharisee in us – legalistic, black and white – other than what God says. Jesus teaches us to see the divine image even in our enemies. There is no logic in that, but God does not abide by our man-made rules and structures of time, fairness, or perception. Unless we live the belief that all, everything, everybody belongs and matters to God, regardless of governmental status, gender identity, or the polarizing “other”, we might be logical – but we will be soulless. Truth is found in the vision of one God, one suffering, one world, one humanity.

All of this, all of us, grounded and bounded by the grace of an undeserved, illogical, unconditional love.

Pastor Art