Dear Sisters and Brothers at Christ Church,
I had planned to write a cheery summertime message for my note today, but the headlines have clouded my heart. During the week we observed Juneteenth as a national holiday for the first time, the Supreme Court made it a lot easier to carry guns and stripped many women of agency over their own bodies. As I lay in bed I thought of Trevor Noah's comment from 2016: "I knew this country was racist. I just didn't know it was so sexist." I know that reasonable people can disagree, but reasonable people also talk with each other, rather than shouting through bullhorns at each other. Amidst this shouting we lose the chance to hear women's experiences. We miss the conversation about sexism, women's health, economic inequality, support for single moms, childcare, services for children, and on and on. We lack that conversational nuance with guns and race, too.
I have no advice nor credibility to fix this. My only thought is to turn to the ancient Jews, who were well-acquainted with heartbreak. In the Psalms they turned to God, not so much to ask for help as to express their grief: "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long?" (Ps 13:1-2)
On this bright summer day, take care of yourself. Be gentle with the people you love. And if your heart is broken, lament, and let God know.
Peace,
Stephen