Time
Most everything about life is interesting, but because life is short and we haven't much Time, each of us decides, for the most part unconsciously, where to invest the limited Time we do have. Certainly during one's working years, we seem to go along on a sort of mindless or unmindful day to day automatic.
Getting to this age, one realizes that one might have done Better and certainly Other with one's limited Time. And that, if going back, might invest that Time quite differently. What's more, in the covid era of social withdrawal, less of one's Time is on automatic and unconscious, more is evident to the mind as unoccupied, causing mental stress for many. Anxiety, loneliness, boredom, frustration, impatience, anger, violence to others and oneself. And gray, overcast, cold, dreary, rainy days don't help.
I'm not there. Already aging, aged, retired, nothing to do physical or mental except what I lay on myself, covid isolation isn't getting to me. Linda is here, 7H is indeed Seventh Heaven, computer works, pantry, refrigerator and freezer are adequately stocked, there's coffee, anchovies, oysters, salmon and chocolate, there's even a steak & kidney pie; no way in hell am I watching the Senate trial, and Life is Good.
One thing I do take notice of is goings on in the Episcopal Church. One is the current churchwide reading through the Gospel according to Mark. Already my favorite Bible book and topic, I'm enjoying that, wandering down some of Mark's dark alleys, having things jump out at me, being startled, remembering peculiar things that have been out of mind since seminary days, thinking and writing whatever comes to mind, posting on +Time my decade-old almost daily blog, Web Log. Mark comes to an end next Tuesday and I'll find somewhere else fun to invest Time.
Another is ENS, what comes up on Episcopal News Service online. Bishop, Dean, and Diocese of Washington DC are in the news these months. Some weeks ago their Bishop was slammed from the political Right within TEC for criticizing the president's stroll up to St John's, Lafayette Square for a photo op. The Right really raised holy hell about it. Now, at this new moment in Time, Bishop and Dean are being crucified by the Left for having invited and hosted Max Lucado to preach a guest sermon at National Cathedral (it's an Episcopal church, you know). I mean, if you were looking for one, it's a great opportunity to take offense. It isn't what Max preached or didn't preach last Sunday, it's something he wrote years ago opposing homosexuality, gay relationships, same-sex marriage. But what the hell, TEC itself has and is split on that topic, everyone hunkered and bunkered in certainty, armed with Bible verses. The issue on the left seems to be that Max Lucado is no longer just a person, Max Lucado is a symbol, like a flag, the banner of the enemy being unfurled right here in the midst of us. As a result, bishop and dean are outdoing themselves with mea culpa, but on the left there's outrage and no accepting apologies; confession but no absolution. Remember, there's theological process: creation, sin, judgment, repentance, redemption. In any other culture, Bishop and Dean would be morally obliged to resign: I'm betting they are not really all that repenant.
Where do I stand on this? I think who people love and marry is nobody else's damn business. The infighting is inevitable as long as there are humans.
Investing some of my Time watching:
Washington bishop, National Cathedral dean apologize for ‘mistake’ of letting Max Lucado preachPosted 8 hours ago |
Washington National Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith speaks during the opening of the cathedral’s Feb. 7 livestreamed worship service.
[Episcopal News Service] Washington Bishop Mariann Budde and Washington National Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith issued parallel apologies late Feb. 10 for allowing popular evangelical pastor Max Lucado to preach during the cathedral’s Sunday service despite facing outrage in advance over Lucado’s past statements against homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
Budde and Hollerith both spoke of the pain the decision had caused many members of the LGBTQ community. Budde, in her statement, quoted with permission from 10 of the people who wrote to her in protest. Hollerith said people had reached out to him as well, and he acknowledged he had erred in not listening to their calls to rescind the invitation to Lucado.
“In my straight privilege I failed to see and fully understand the pain he has caused,” Hollerith said. “I failed to appreciate the depth of injury his words have had on many in the LGBTQ community. I failed to see the pain I was continuing. I was wrong and I am sorry.”
Lucado is a best-selling author of self-help books and the pastor of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. His 22-minute pre-recorded video sermon for the cathedral’s Feb. 7 livestreamed service included no reference to sexuality or same-sex marriage. Outrage over allowing Lucado to preach began late last week over a 2004 article, in which he called homosexuality a “sexual sin” and outlined his belief that God does not condone same-sex marriage, comparing it to legalizing polygamy, bestiality and incest.
ENS reached out several times to Lucado and his church, seeking comment on whether he still holds those views. Church staff members said he was unavailable.
The outrage over the cathedral’s decisions continued to simmer this week, despite retired Bishop Gene Robinson’s prominent defense of the cathedral. Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in The Episcopal Church when he was consecrated in 2003 in New Hampshire, agreed to a request by Hollerith to come to the cathedral on Feb. 7 and preside at the online service that featured Lucado.
Like Hollerith, Budde said she should have heeded the appeals of those who were questioning the cathedral’s decision to invite Lucado as its latest guest preacher.
“In the days since, I have heard from those who were not only wounded by things Max Lucado has said and taught, but equally wounded by the decision to welcome him into the Cathedral’s pulpit,” Budde said. “I didn’t realize how deep those wounds were and how unsafe the world can feel. I should have known better. More than apology, we seek to make amends.”
Budde and Hollerith both announced they are organizing a listening session to provide additional opportunities for people to share their thoughts and experiences with clergy leaders. That session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 21.
Read Washington Bishop Mariann Budde’s full statement here.
Read Washington National Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith’s full statement here.
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