Hello, friends. I realize I haven’t posted much lately. I started a new pastoral position about a year ago and then, you know, the world fell apart. I’m not trying to make excuses, just providing context. Like many of you, I have been thinking and praying and struggling lately with how to most faithfully follow Jesus in the United States right now. 

There is so much harm being done that it’s hard to know where to focus: the violent laws and rhetoric against our queer neighbors (especially those who are transgender and non-binary); the illegal kidnapping and detention of our immigrant neighbors; the unconstitutional acts against those protesting the genocide of our neighbors in Gaza; the horrors of the recent budget bill that will (among other things) take away healthcare from so many of our neighbors; the dismantling of environmental protections that threatens each of us and our land and animal neighbors . . .  

There are so many responses needed that it’s hard to know what to do: read all the commentaries and lectures and books; join the protests; send money to the organizations; call the legislators; share the articles; have the hard conversations; pastor the churches . . .  

I wish I could tell you that a voice came down from heaven and told me exactly what I should be doing. But, of course, it didn’t. Two things, however, have become quite clear: 

1. I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING(s).
2. I can’t do everything–or even very many things.

In my discernment about what MY things to do are right now, I have come to focus on two questions: 

1. Where has God positioned me in this moment?
2. What particular gifts–life experience, abilities, access–has God given me for this time?

I’m pretty clear on the answer to #1: God has placed me as pastor of Bethel College Mennonite Church. I feel deeply called to this role and believe that the church’s task of building strong communities of faithful resistance is good and important work. (You can hear the sermons I’ve been preaching recently on the Bethel College Mennonite YouTube page.)

The second question isn’t quite as clear. I believe one of my strongest gifts is biblical interpretation and communication. Which, frankly, is not the superpower I would choose for saving the world from facism. But thanks to some recent reading–and thoughtful Facebook posts from my friend Rebecca Barret-Fox–I’m starting to appreciate that talking about scripture might actually be a helpful superpower after all. I mean, bad biblical interpretation is responsible for a lot of the mess we’re in right now. Maybe, by the grace of God, faithful biblical interpretation can be part of how we work our way toward being less of a mess. 

Maybe.

It’s about all I’ve got right now anyway. So I’m going to give it a try. 

I’m starting a series on this page called “Spacious Word.” At least twice a week (hold me to it–unless I take a vacation) I will post a reflection on a biblical passage that connects with something I’ve read in the news lately. It won’t be long or involved or polished. I won’t (usually) dig into the Greek text or cite religious scholars. It will just be a little glimpse into how God’s Spirit and Word are moving in my mind and heart as I try to live in this world right now. Hopefully a glimpse that will inspire or challenge or encourage you, as well.

It won’t be much. But it will be something. (Maybe an index finger?) And when my something joins your somethings (elbows, ears, shins, belly buttons), through the power and grace of God, we can more faithfully be the body of Christ in the world.