I serve as chaplain to the
Commission on One world One Church of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa: http://www.iowaepiscopal.org/ministry_together/one_world_one_church.php
Generally I open our meetings with a short meditation or read from the Book of Common Prayer - nothing too spiritually-taxing for tired church folk gathered on a Saturday morning.
Encouragement. Comfort. Inspiration.
Today was different.
Today the recurring horrific communal memory floated around us, and I had to dig deep to know how to speak to the pain and fear that still surround the events of 9/11.
Here is what I said:
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It's been rendered almost treacly by being used as the frosting of so many weddings,
but the scripture has so much to say to us today.
You know the one:
"Yada yada yada, clanging cymbal, ho-hum; move mountains, yadayada,
but the greatest of these is love..."
Yeah, yeah, but when can we kiss?
Love. Only this. This and only this
only God
only neighbor
only love them
What a concept. . . let's burn their holy books - that'll show 'em!
That a minister of a faith built on love and sacrifice would even consider this makes my brain and my heart hurt. I feel the same outrage I felt the day we buried my mother, when two people were handing out pamphlets about purgatory. In the door of the church! At my mother's funeral Mass!
I was restrained then, but at the funeral lunch, when they showed up to eat with us - plates full of tamales and rice and beans and salad - the words I threw at them were so angry that I didn't argue when they said they didn't think they were welcome there.
"You're right", I said.
"I was wrong," I tell myself now.
My momma taught me better than that. Given the chance to sit down with people I disagreed with, people who had hurt me, I couldn't do it.
"How dare you?" I continue to think about them.
"How dare you?" I think about the Florida pastor and those who agree with him.
But all it engenders in me is more hatred and bitterness.
How can we wrap our arms around those who hold our food in their hands, even when our mouth is full of ashes and bitterness?
But I am preaching to the choir, to you, my mentors in all this.
[and the OWOC members are my heroes, as are many of you who read this]
Certainly we don't forget the ones who died on this date. But at peril to our lives and souls do we cast aside those who caused the death and destruction, and the ones who continue it, no matter what "side" they are on.
There can be no sides, no us, no them, or this will never end well.
Love. Only this. This and only this.
God
neighbor
self.
love them all -
Amen.
