Zach, thank you for this excellent essay. It hits home as I wade through where and how I should be navigating life and the gifts I’ve been given to best advocate for what is right and good.
Thank you so much for this on an early (3:00 am) morning when I am tossing and turning and cannot sleep. I love Sarah Bessey. I am going to print out her blessing. It speaks to me as I know it speaks to SO MANY in these days. The line, "Not to defend what has become indefensible,
but to witness to a better truth:that this name once meant love, and still can" really got me. I never thought about how many of the epistles were written from one type of prison to another! Looking back at the "name it, claim it," theology of the 1970s and beyond, I cannot understand how so many missed this stuff!
Same- up tossing and turning! What a lovely piece Zach has written. The line in Sarah’s poem that stands out to me is “May your discernment be sharp, even as your heart remains soft.” The observation of all that was written by those incarcerated also struck me.
Yes, Linda! That line too (all of them, really). Sometimes I feel as if my discernment is just being "judgy," but it's not, and that was good reminder.
When I think of the moments in my life where I have grown stronger and wiser, they were all times I was challenged, and were times of pain, sometimes physical pain — what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Should this not be true of our faith and spiritual growth? When I struggle to find within myself the strength to respond with love to those who are causing so much pain, I remember this, and silently thank their souls for giving me yet another opportunity to learn and grow spiritually stronger.
Thank your for the pep talk, the scriptures, and the benediction. I can't change what other Christians do, but I can change myself to be more involved in my community. I can show people the transformation that the love of Christ has done in me. I pray to God to give me the strength and determination to act.
Interestingly, this is what I am being led to preach on this Sunday. Although, reading your beautiful letter showed me I was going about it the wrong way. So I am back to the drawing board to find a better way to both encourage people and challenge them to stand up, because this is the time for God's people to shine like a light on a hill. Even more interestingly, I had an incredible conversation with an Uber driver this week in Philadelphia. She too is minister. When she asked what I was preaching on and I told her, she responded in awe that the same message had been burning a hole in her heart this week. I find it holy that 3 ministers, from three different parts of the country, are independently being led by God to share this message of courage and hope and resilience.
Zach, thank you for this excellent essay. It hits home as I wade through where and how I should be navigating life and the gifts I’ve been given to best advocate for what is right and good.
Thank you so much for this on an early (3:00 am) morning when I am tossing and turning and cannot sleep. I love Sarah Bessey. I am going to print out her blessing. It speaks to me as I know it speaks to SO MANY in these days. The line, "Not to defend what has become indefensible,
but to witness to a better truth:that this name once meant love, and still can" really got me. I never thought about how many of the epistles were written from one type of prison to another! Looking back at the "name it, claim it," theology of the 1970s and beyond, I cannot understand how so many missed this stuff!
Same- up tossing and turning! What a lovely piece Zach has written. The line in Sarah’s poem that stands out to me is “May your discernment be sharp, even as your heart remains soft.” The observation of all that was written by those incarcerated also struck me.
Yes, Linda! That line too (all of them, really). Sometimes I feel as if my discernment is just being "judgy," but it's not, and that was good reminder.
I love this double Linda interaction ☺️
LOL...me too!
Good essay. Thank you.
When I think of the moments in my life where I have grown stronger and wiser, they were all times I was challenged, and were times of pain, sometimes physical pain — what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Should this not be true of our faith and spiritual growth? When I struggle to find within myself the strength to respond with love to those who are causing so much pain, I remember this, and silently thank their souls for giving me yet another opportunity to learn and grow spiritually stronger.
Oh how my heart needed this today. I’m still getting used to the wounds coming from my own community.
Thank your for the pep talk, the scriptures, and the benediction. I can't change what other Christians do, but I can change myself to be more involved in my community. I can show people the transformation that the love of Christ has done in me. I pray to God to give me the strength and determination to act.
Interestingly, this is what I am being led to preach on this Sunday. Although, reading your beautiful letter showed me I was going about it the wrong way. So I am back to the drawing board to find a better way to both encourage people and challenge them to stand up, because this is the time for God's people to shine like a light on a hill. Even more interestingly, I had an incredible conversation with an Uber driver this week in Philadelphia. She too is minister. When she asked what I was preaching on and I told her, she responded in awe that the same message had been burning a hole in her heart this week. I find it holy that 3 ministers, from three different parts of the country, are independently being led by God to share this message of courage and hope and resilience.
Very encouraging. Great prayer to end.
Finally, some words that speak truth. That inspire me.