I have justice on the brain. But that's my problem. God wants my sense of justice to move about eight inches south: to my heart. Someone once said that eight inches is the longest distance on earth. It's hard for us to get out of our heads to feel and act from our hearts.
It seems other people have this problem too. Justice is in our heads, when it should be in our hearts. Justice is about abstract concepts, when it should be about compassion for living, breathing people.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said justice is love. "Justice is love correcting that which would work against love." Dr. King had the power to place issues of inequality in theological context, to make civil rights a spiritual issue. Like Jesus, he connected heart, mind and spirit. He knew that every major social change begins with a moral transformation.
Our 2020 vision statement says we are moving beyond charity to change structures of injustice.
At First United we talk a lot about how to work for justice and we think a lot about where to begin. We do a lot every day to bring God's kingdom to earth. Today, on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I want to spend a few minutes praying for justice, from my heart. Because when God changes my heart, I find it's a lot easier to change my mind.
P.S. The next mission trip to rebuild New Orleans will leave Chicago Feb. 27-Mar. 6, 2011. Start praying now about whether you can be part of the trip. It begins with a journey of just eight inches.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Life on the Labyrinth
This had not been one of my better days. I think I had too much coffee last Thursday. All day I felt keyed-up, tense, and was flying through my to-do list without stopping. I almost lost my temper with a church member who called me about a committee project. At 6:15 pm, I stopped to prepare for the monthly spiritual guidance group, which was meeting that night. Talk about divine intervention. No one needed spiritual guidance at that moment more than me, the lead pastor.
I had invited the group members to meet a half-hour early to walk the labyrinth as a group. It was a beautiful, late summer evening, and several people gathered quietly at the entrance. I took a moment to breathe, my heart still racing from the day, and began to walk the winding path.
Slowly I realized the world was beginning to look and feel different to me. I felt the strength and stability of the trees that surround our labyrinth on the church lawn. I drew inspiration from the sturdy bedrock of the church building. I found peace from the "cloud of witnesses" buried in our Memorial Garden. The sun was setting in the west. The moon was rising in the south. A host of people walked by on Lake Street. I was surrounded by the Peaceable Kingdom, right outside my office door.
When I completed the sacred path, my heartbeat had slowed down. I was surrounded by friends. And I had recovered my spiritual humility. God is with us. Blessed be.
I had invited the group members to meet a half-hour early to walk the labyrinth as a group. It was a beautiful, late summer evening, and several people gathered quietly at the entrance. I took a moment to breathe, my heart still racing from the day, and began to walk the winding path.
Slowly I realized the world was beginning to look and feel different to me. I felt the strength and stability of the trees that surround our labyrinth on the church lawn. I drew inspiration from the sturdy bedrock of the church building. I found peace from the "cloud of witnesses" buried in our Memorial Garden. The sun was setting in the west. The moon was rising in the south. A host of people walked by on Lake Street. I was surrounded by the Peaceable Kingdom, right outside my office door.
When I completed the sacred path, my heartbeat had slowed down. I was surrounded by friends. And I had recovered my spiritual humility. God is with us. Blessed be.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Back to School -- OMG
The prayer request cards were stacked up high last Sunday, and a bunch were from parents of children starting school or going off to college. The anxiety was palpable. Students have to face the unknowns of a new school year. Parents have to watch their babies leave the nest. It's back to school time.
So we needed a word from Hebrews to remind us of the great "cloud of witnesses" that surround us, cheering us on, encouraging us as we run the race set before us. In my sermon, I shared stories about people who root for us. Our associate pastor Rob Leveridge later shared this story with me.
"My mom is a psychotherapist and several years ago had a group therapy group that was part of a state-mandated probation program for teens who’d gotten into serious trouble with you-name-it, bad stuff. And one of the activities she did with the kids was to have them think of a person who they knew wanted only the very best for them. Think of a person who didn’t judge them, didn’t want to use or abuse them, someone who they knew only wanted good things for them. And the exercise was that, when contemplating whether to make a choice in the day to day that might have negative consequences, think about that person, and think about what that person would want for them.
"Well, there was this one girl, who really worked hard on this exercise, but finally told my mom that she could not think of anybody she had ever met in her whole life that fit this description. But she didn’t give up. She decided to use Bill Cosby as her person for the exercise, because she had come to believe that Bill Cosby wanted the best for her.
"I’ll never forget my mom saying, you know, you could dwell in the horror of this child growing up believing that every person in her life wanted to use or hurt or steal from her, but at the same time, you have to say, wow – thank God for Bill Cosby!"
If you are having an OMG moment during these late summer days, remember that we're rooting for you. Call a pastor or call your deacon if you need some encouraging words. You are not alone, and we are easier to reach than Bill Cosby.
So we needed a word from Hebrews to remind us of the great "cloud of witnesses" that surround us, cheering us on, encouraging us as we run the race set before us. In my sermon, I shared stories about people who root for us. Our associate pastor Rob Leveridge later shared this story with me.
"My mom is a psychotherapist and several years ago had a group therapy group that was part of a state-mandated probation program for teens who’d gotten into serious trouble with you-name-it, bad stuff. And one of the activities she did with the kids was to have them think of a person who they knew wanted only the very best for them. Think of a person who didn’t judge them, didn’t want to use or abuse them, someone who they knew only wanted good things for them. And the exercise was that, when contemplating whether to make a choice in the day to day that might have negative consequences, think about that person, and think about what that person would want for them.
"Well, there was this one girl, who really worked hard on this exercise, but finally told my mom that she could not think of anybody she had ever met in her whole life that fit this description. But she didn’t give up. She decided to use Bill Cosby as her person for the exercise, because she had come to believe that Bill Cosby wanted the best for her.
"I’ll never forget my mom saying, you know, you could dwell in the horror of this child growing up believing that every person in her life wanted to use or hurt or steal from her, but at the same time, you have to say, wow – thank God for Bill Cosby!"
If you are having an OMG moment during these late summer days, remember that we're rooting for you. Call a pastor or call your deacon if you need some encouraging words. You are not alone, and we are easier to reach than Bill Cosby.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Who Is My Neighbor?
Here is a snapshot of the 310,000 people who live within a three-mile radius of First United Church.
• Race ---We are diverse: 44 percent African American; 27 percent Anglo; 25 percent Latino and 4 percent Asian.
• Age--- We are young: 29 percent are between 9 and 28 years old, 30 percent between 29 and 49 years old; and our senior population is 20 percent smaller than the national average.
• Education---Many are well-educated. In Oak Park itself, two-thirds of the population has at least a college education. In the larger, three-mile radius, only 24 percent of the people have a college degree.
• Marital status---More of us are single and less are married than the national average. There are 56 percent more single mothers with children in our community than the national average.
• Income---This varies greatly. In Oak Park itself, the average household income is over $90,000. In the larger radius, the average income is $68,000.
• Faith---We are believers: 83 percent believe in God. One-third are strongly involved in a church; one-third are somewhat involved; and one-third are not involved in a faith community. The largest group is Catholic (29 percent); followed by Lutheran (13 percent); Methodist (10 percent); Presbyterian or UCC (5 percent) and Jewish (2 percent).
• Major social issues of concern---gangs, affordable housing, racial prejudice, crime and safety, social injustice, employment dissatisfaction (including unemployment).
Our church staff, leaders and Faith in Action committee have been studying these demographics over the summer. What can we discern about where God is calling us to lead, to serve and to seek justice, based on the needs in our own neighborhood?
The FIA committee determined in July that its primary mission is to be advocates for struggling, low-income people in our local community. Within three miles of our front doors, the largest “lifestyle” group is struggling black households, which represent 18 percent of all households.
It’s a question we all need to ask: How are we being called to love our neighbors? When we plan our church activities, we often wonder, “What are our needs?” Instead, let’s start asking, “What needs to be changed to make this a just society? How can this community be helped to conform to the will of God?” And let’s look at systems, policies, advocacy and programs, rather than simply serving individuals in need.
Check the church website for information about justice training to be offered here in October by the Community Renewal Society in Chicago. It’s all about living God’s vision: moving from charity to changing structures of injustice.
• Race ---We are diverse: 44 percent African American; 27 percent Anglo; 25 percent Latino and 4 percent Asian.
• Age--- We are young: 29 percent are between 9 and 28 years old, 30 percent between 29 and 49 years old; and our senior population is 20 percent smaller than the national average.
• Education---Many are well-educated. In Oak Park itself, two-thirds of the population has at least a college education. In the larger, three-mile radius, only 24 percent of the people have a college degree.
• Marital status---More of us are single and less are married than the national average. There are 56 percent more single mothers with children in our community than the national average.
• Income---This varies greatly. In Oak Park itself, the average household income is over $90,000. In the larger radius, the average income is $68,000.
• Faith---We are believers: 83 percent believe in God. One-third are strongly involved in a church; one-third are somewhat involved; and one-third are not involved in a faith community. The largest group is Catholic (29 percent); followed by Lutheran (13 percent); Methodist (10 percent); Presbyterian or UCC (5 percent) and Jewish (2 percent).
• Major social issues of concern---gangs, affordable housing, racial prejudice, crime and safety, social injustice, employment dissatisfaction (including unemployment).
Our church staff, leaders and Faith in Action committee have been studying these demographics over the summer. What can we discern about where God is calling us to lead, to serve and to seek justice, based on the needs in our own neighborhood?
The FIA committee determined in July that its primary mission is to be advocates for struggling, low-income people in our local community. Within three miles of our front doors, the largest “lifestyle” group is struggling black households, which represent 18 percent of all households.
It’s a question we all need to ask: How are we being called to love our neighbors? When we plan our church activities, we often wonder, “What are our needs?” Instead, let’s start asking, “What needs to be changed to make this a just society? How can this community be helped to conform to the will of God?” And let’s look at systems, policies, advocacy and programs, rather than simply serving individuals in need.
Check the church website for information about justice training to be offered here in October by the Community Renewal Society in Chicago. It’s all about living God’s vision: moving from charity to changing structures of injustice.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Environmental Racism
Have you ever heard that term, environmental justice? About 25 years ago, leaders in the United Church of Christ discovered environmental racism in a place nobody had discussed it before: the location of toxic waste dumps. Our denomination issued a landmark study called "Toxic Waste and Race" that showed a disproportionate number of toxic waste sites are located in communities that have a high percentage of people of color. South Chicago is one of those places.
A new report shows that 40,000 tons of oil spill waste from the Gulf Coast now is being dumped in communities that are primarily black and Latino. Here we go again. Just when we were relieved that the leak had been capped after four months, a new danger emerges. Robert Bullard from the Environmental Justice Resource Center just completed a study of the nine landfills that are receiving waste products from our country's largest oil spill: five of them are communities where a majority of residents are people of color. In addition, these sites in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi are not designed for hazardous waste. The only place that successfully halted dumping at their landfill is Harrison County, Mississippi, where residents are 71 percent white.
Attention must be paid. I'm grateful that the United Church of Christ keeps its eye on justice, through our church's wider ministries. Let's keep our vision on environmental and racial justice, as well.
A new report shows that 40,000 tons of oil spill waste from the Gulf Coast now is being dumped in communities that are primarily black and Latino. Here we go again. Just when we were relieved that the leak had been capped after four months, a new danger emerges. Robert Bullard from the Environmental Justice Resource Center just completed a study of the nine landfills that are receiving waste products from our country's largest oil spill: five of them are communities where a majority of residents are people of color. In addition, these sites in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi are not designed for hazardous waste. The only place that successfully halted dumping at their landfill is Harrison County, Mississippi, where residents are 71 percent white.
Attention must be paid. I'm grateful that the United Church of Christ keeps its eye on justice, through our church's wider ministries. Let's keep our vision on environmental and racial justice, as well.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow
We just got back from our family vacation to Yosemite National Park in California -- wow! Four things impressed me most. 1. The weather is perfect everyday. They don't even bother checking the forecast. 2. The mountains and giant sequoias are so massive that a person feels truly humbled. As my daughter said, "Thank you, God, for glaciers and tectonic plates." 3. Fully half the visitors there were from other countries. Our national parks are not only a treasure for Americans, they provide an incomparable pleasure ground for the world. 4. That this nature sanctuary was established at a time of great national turmoil.
It was 1864, and Gen. U.S. Grant was preparing for an assault on Richmond. President Lincoln and legislators were caught up in the agony of the Civil War. And yet . . . in the midst of all of this, Senator Conness from California introduced legislation to set aside a certain portion of the Sierra Nevada as a Land Grant to be used for public recreation forever.
What were the chances of success? None of the senators or representatives had ever been to Yosemite; it took months of hard travel to get there from Washington. All they had seen were a few photos and paintings of the mountains, streams and falls. This would be the first public wilderness park established anywhere in the world. There were more pressing issues on the legislative docket, and yet the Yosemite Land Grant passed after just a few minutes of discussion.
Only later was the territory actually surveyed, and then tirelessly promoted by naturalist John Muir and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. In the 20th century, photographer Ansel Adams would become a fierce advocate for Yosemite and other parks. Thank God for their foresight. Though they faced many competing claims, they never stopped thinking about tomorrow.
At First United, we owe so much to the legacy of forward-thinking leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries. Several months ago, we began an initiative to promote planned giving, in order to preserve the legacy of our building and provide renewal for ministries of the future. An estate gift can make a huge difference in a church's mission. Most of us get so caught up in the problems of each day that we don't consider the needs of coming generations. We forget that we too will leave a legacy . . . as long as we don't stop thinking about tomorrow.
It was 1864, and Gen. U.S. Grant was preparing for an assault on Richmond. President Lincoln and legislators were caught up in the agony of the Civil War. And yet . . . in the midst of all of this, Senator Conness from California introduced legislation to set aside a certain portion of the Sierra Nevada as a Land Grant to be used for public recreation forever.
What were the chances of success? None of the senators or representatives had ever been to Yosemite; it took months of hard travel to get there from Washington. All they had seen were a few photos and paintings of the mountains, streams and falls. This would be the first public wilderness park established anywhere in the world. There were more pressing issues on the legislative docket, and yet the Yosemite Land Grant passed after just a few minutes of discussion.
Only later was the territory actually surveyed, and then tirelessly promoted by naturalist John Muir and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. In the 20th century, photographer Ansel Adams would become a fierce advocate for Yosemite and other parks. Thank God for their foresight. Though they faced many competing claims, they never stopped thinking about tomorrow.
At First United, we owe so much to the legacy of forward-thinking leaders of the 19th and 20th centuries. Several months ago, we began an initiative to promote planned giving, in order to preserve the legacy of our building and provide renewal for ministries of the future. An estate gift can make a huge difference in a church's mission. Most of us get so caught up in the problems of each day that we don't consider the needs of coming generations. We forget that we too will leave a legacy . . . as long as we don't stop thinking about tomorrow.
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