Breathing in, I know I am breathing, alive, lungs full, ready to speak, to shout. Bless my breathing out, the words my breath will carry. Breathing in, I feel my ribs expanding, I am in my body, my living body, steady. Bless my breathing out, the rooting down to stand. Breathing in I feel my… Read More
Saturday Prayer
My friend Dayalan Devanesen, director of Roofs for the Roofless, of Chennai, India, sent me a photo of Gurdon Brewster’s sculpture given to him by his mother. It is ‘Christ Dancing Off the Cross’. On the last of the waiting nights for whatever the “power” is going to be, it seems important to hold carefully… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Holy Spirit, Holy Breath- Our black neighbors can’t breathe. The ones in power have knees cutting into their necks robbing them of air and of many tomorrows. Our black neighbors can’t breathe. They wonder what the “nice white lady” will say when she calls the police for no reason. And then what will happen… Our… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Elections Illnesses [Un]natural disasters Policing Racism Transphobia Anti-Blackness Patriarchy Anti-Immigrant …this and more … …has me playing the theme song from “Harriet” on repeat this Wednesday, O God. And praying, praying, praying… But I know that this is not enough So I am asking for energy to keep standing up I am asking for courage… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Beyond Civility
I’ve recently become aware of an organization called The National Institute for Civil Discourse because they launched a “Golden Rule 2020” campaign on November 3. Many mainline denominational leaders participated in the gathering that led to this campaign and subsequently endorsed it. As a result, in my social media feeds, people I respect offered very… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political: Confessing to Plants
This weekend was the Autumn Equinox in the northern hemisphere, that mid-point between the great exhalation of light between the summer and winter solstices, a time to honor balance and the gifts of both light and dark, so necessary for the flourishing of life. We honored the equinox with a simple ritual of giving thanks… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Borders
The Pastoral is Political – Borders I am writing this at the start of a holiday. My hubby and I love traveling. Each year we decide where we are heading and I get planning. I can spend hours looking at flight options and reading reviews of accommodation options. I always aim to get a good… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: I Still Carry My White Privilege With Me
From the daughter of a RevGal teaching in Japan: This past Saturday I went to a local mall in Tokushima to do some shopping with my girlfriend, J. As we were walking to the ATMs, a few preteen girls and a mom came walking toward us from the opposite direction. I heard the girls start… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political: Release Barabbas
“Release Barabbas for us!” (Luke 23:18) In Bangladesh, an 18-year-old student named Nusrat Jahan Rafi has died from the trauma of being set on fire, an attacked that caused 80% burn injuries on her body. The student had accused the school principal, an influential local leader, of attempted rape. Her family received threats after the… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Holy One, Thank you for a new day with new opportunities to grow, new possibilities to love, new intentions to be more like You in the world; even if it is only within our own small world to start. As we lean into the rest of the week, cause us to lean on You, to… Read More
RevGalBlogPals 