The Secrets of a Long Life

I had dinner with friends last Wednesday night. Beth, one of the new folks at Mount Vernon Place, Nathan, one of our interns at the church, and I went to the Hermitage in Alexandria for dinner with some of the church members. Lois, Howard and Gilbert all live at the Hermitage, a large retirement community owned and operated by the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. While I often enjoy breaking bread with friends around the dinner table, Wednesday was no ordinary night. It was rather extraordinary due to the individuals with whom we shared the evening.

Lois is 93. She is the Finance Committee Chairperson of our church, along with the treasurer of the Social Concerns/Serve Ministry Team and the treasurer of most of the Sunday school classes. She is a retired economist who spent most of her working years at the Department of Agriculture. She has a quick whit about her and is not afraid to say anything. She tells it just like it is. Lois was one of my loudest critics when I arrived at the church in the summer of 2005. I'll never forget the day she walked into a meeting and explained to the group that the reason she was late is because the nurse would not let her go because her blood pressure was so high, "knowing she was about to see her pastor." She is now one of my favorite people, and she has already volunteered to be the maid of honor at my wedding (no exact plans yet - don't worry - I'll announce that later).

Howard is 98. He has a dog named Rebel who is the center of his life. Some church members share how it was Rebel, not Howard's wife, who got to sit in the front seat of the car when they would go on trips. Howard is also long retired and is quick to share with you his secrets of the stock market. He is one of the most kind hearted individuals I have ever met. He has a generosity of spirit about him, and his constant prayer request is for "God to make me a better Christian" - though Howard's walk of faith is one we can all emulate. Howard and Lois are the best of friends - the kind of friends who tell each other exactly what they think, ride in to the church together (they both still drive into downtown DC), and spend a lot of time together.


Gilbert is 97. He is a retired attorney who spent most of his career at the Department of the Interior. He will not allow us to visit the Hermitage now without going to his apartment for a little while. He has nearly 100 ties -- both long ties and bow ties. He has memorabilia from his work at the Interior all over his walls. And, he loves showing pictures to visitors of his beloved wife who passed away several years ago. Gilbert taught Sunday school faithfully at the church until just recently. He loves to show the desk where the lessons are pulled together, and his work notes are filled with careful exegesis of different passages and texts. He is pretty remarkable.


Following dinner and apartment tours last week, we were joined by several other members of Mount Vernon Place. Richard is the adopted son of many of the members. He has a weekly routine of playing games at the Hermitage before taking ice cream to one of the member's homes, a woman I call "precious," in Northern Virginia. On Wednesday, the games and the ice cream were brought to us. We all played several card games, with the only one I had heard of before being bridge. There was a homemade board game brought, too, called "Waa Hoo." The games belong to Ruth D. a phenomenal 91 year old who is the biggest cheerleader Mount Vernon Place has ever had. She is the one who set up the card tables on Wednesday night, brought in extra decks of cards, and taught us all how to play the games. She is amazing!

And somewhere in the midst of our evening, I learned a few of the secrets to living a long life.

1) Take time to play. Play games. Play with your grandchildren. Play with your friends.

2) Eat ice cream with friends, and add a few Girl Scout Cookies on top if you have them.

3) Invest your time, energy and resources in a church. All of these individuals have pictures of their Sunday school class on display in their apartments. Their church has been the center of their lives for the last 40 - 60 years. They have and they continue to faithfully support it with all that they have. They have watched it swell to over 4500 members and shrink to less than 100 members. Still, they keep coming. They keep studying the Bible together. They keep praying together. They keep playing together. They keep worshipping together.


4) And while I did not ask her for her secret, I think Lois would tell you that one of the secrets to a long life is to find a favorite restaurant and to go there every day for lunch. Take a book with you. Drink a martini with Beefeaters gin before you eat anything. Follow the martini with a bowl of soup and then eat whatever you want.

It's a good life -- a good, long life!

A Resurrection Story

Students from Georgetown University gave the Mount Vernon Place congregation a tremendous gift on Saturday afternoon. Through a class called "Theater as Social Change," six Georgetown students created and performed a play on the rich and wonderful history of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church.
Anita, James, Jenn, Julia and Murphy were truly outstanding in their various roles. They took us to Washington as it was during World War II. They enabled us to experience the heat of Washington summers and to imagine what it was like to be pregnant without air conditioning. They expressed the life-giving hospitality and welcome that have been extended from the church since it was built in 1917. They took us to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech at the Lincoln Memorial. They gave us sounds from the riots of 1968. They enabled us to see how much we have done since the church began 157 years ago and how much more there is to do in the future, leaving us absolutely convinced that God is not finished with this church yet.


All of us have a story to tell -- a story of success and defeat, a story of being full and a story of being empty, a story of life and a story of death. There is power when we tell our stories -- when we remember the past, recall God's faithfulness at every twist and turn, and forge on to the future.

Thank you - Anita, James, Jenn, Julia, and Murphy for telling our story in such a beautiful, powerful way. Thank you Sam, Karen and Carol for providing leadership for this class. You made us laugh. You made us cry. You made us remember. You touched us in a profound way. We are so grateful for the privilege of being able to hear our story.

Frit

I have had a crash course in real estate development since arriving at Mount Vernon Place in the summer of 2005. Each week, I have learned something new about the selling of property and the construction of buildings as we go through the process of redeveloping the church's property. New words and phrases have been added to my vocabulary often - things they do not teach in seminary.

Last summer, I learned about Retroplate - a polished concrete that will be installed in different places in our new church building. The product can be found in several apartment buildings in Washington, is very durable, and environmentally friendly.

Last month, I learned about "GMP." GMP stands for "guaranteed maximum price." It is a number given to us by the folks at Clark Construction -- a number that is much larger for the historic renovation than we thought it would be when we first started the conversations about restoring Mount Vernon Place two years ago!

The word for this week is "frit." Do you know what frit is? Neither did I.

Frit is a type of glass that is used in office buildings all over the city. It is basically a patterned glass with the patterns designed to provide some privacy in the room to which it is installed. Frit keeps our eyes from seeing everything. The examples of frit that I was shown this week have lines or dots on the glass that can block out anywhere from 30 - 50% of the glass' viewing area.

Our developer has proposed that we use frit on the windows of our new fellowship hall so that people coming into the new office building cannot see everything that the church is doing in that large space. The frit will allow people to see some things - but not everything.

While frit is a new word to me, and I cannot point to any frit in my home or in the buildings that I regularly go in and out of, I believe that we see frit all of the time.

Last year I was having a conversation with a young person who was yearning to be more fully known. She said to me, "You know, in Washington, you are whoever you say you are."

She's right. The most common question asked at happy hours in this city is "What do you do?" It is the Washington question. And you are whoever you say you are. "I am a lawyer." "I am a White House staffer." "I am a lobbyist." "I am a legislative assistant." "I am a pastor." (The last response always begs a second question - "You're a what?")

We are whoever we say we are. Very few people want to learn anything more than what we do or who we work for. Very few people allow the conversation to extend to the point where we share more than what we do from 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. We tend to keep the eye from seeing everything or the ear from hearing more. We are good at revealing only so much, keeping things very superficial. And still, on the inside, we are yearning to be more fully known. We are yearning for more transparency -- for more of us to be seen and known.

The Cheers' cliche still says it all, "Sometimes we want to go where everybody knows our name. And they're always glad we came."

While there may be frit on the new building at Mount Vernon Place, we are trying to foster a community where there is no frit. We are working to become a place where all people are welcome to come just as they are -- where they don't have to hide anything, preventing people from really seeing who they are. We are striving for a community where people can come and share all of their burdens, their joys, their frustrations, their dreams, their fears, and their deepest longings - and be accepted in spite of it all.

I long for a place where the rich and the poor gather together, where the hungry and the full break bread together, where those who have no one and those who have everyone laugh together. I pray for a community where people don't have to cry out "I need to be known, accepted, and loved," because they immediately encounter individuals who are eager to ask more than the question, "What do you do," while offering acceptance and love to everyone.

I catch a glimpse of such a place every time I gather with the Mount Vernon Place congregation. When I am with the people who I am privileged to be in ministry with, I see a man who is 98 and a baby who is 8 months old. On Sunday mornings, I see people at church who have everything that they want and sometimes see people whose only belongings are in the bags on their backs. I see people who have severe mental and physical illnesses and individuals who are a picture of good health. I see people who believe everything that is proclaimed from the pulpit and people who doubt everything that is said. I see individuals who have shared their dark sins with me and individuals who tell me they have never done anything wrong. I see people who were born a few miles from the church and others who were born thousands of miles away on the continent of Africa.

We're far from perfect at Mount Vernon Place. Still, I catch a glimpse of God's kingdom every time we gather. And as we strive for perfection, I pray that we will continue to be a place where people can be seen -- really seen -- where the barriers are broken -- where people can be fully human -- and loved and accepted -- in the midst of it all.

Imagine Peace

I was walking down 7th Street in Chinatown yesterday when a large banner caught my attention. The sidewalks were busy, and not many people seemed to notice what was hanging on the side of the Verizon Center. Still, the words on the sign caught my attention:

The sign was designed by Yoko Ono after September 11. It has hung in different places around our nation. Its words are most appropriate for a nation that is mourning. I am not sure when it was first hung at the Verizon Center - if it is something that went up a long time ago or just this week - but the words make me imagine peace - they make me imagine a world that is much different than the one in which we live. The words are yet another call to prayer for me.

Gracious and loving God,

we pray for the people of Virginia Tech

and the entire community of Blacksburg, Virginia.

Our hearts are raw and aching in the wake of the tragedy that occurred on Monday morning.

We cannot imagine such a thing happening on a college campus in a quaint community.

We cannot imagine any one person having the capacity to take so many innocent lives.

But now we do not have to imagine it - for it has happened.

Violence has rocked a campus, ending the lives of 32 individuals --

men and women who you created in your image.

Men and women who you know by name and who you are so familiar with that you even know the number of hairs on their heads.

We pray for the families of those who have died.

We ask that you would comfort mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers,

grandpas and grandmas, boyfriends and girlfriends, fiances and friends.

Speak tenderly once again your words of eternal life.

Where there is mourning, bring comfort.

Where there is darkness, bring light.

We also pray for the family of Cho Seung Hui.

Please bring comfort to his parents in Centreville, Virginia.

Bring them peace when no answers can be found to their questions.

Protect their business and surround them with love.

We also ask that you comfort the entire Korean community.

Be with them in this time of loss and hurt.

And, Lord, we pray for the entire community of Virginia Tech.

A place called, "Hokie Nation" is now closed for the week.

Please bring comfort and healing during this week.

Allow the individuals who study, teach and work there to find peace in the midst of despair.

Allow people to question, recognizing that answers are hard to find.

Allow people to doubt, only to find your still, small voice in the midst of the doubting.

And in the midst of this loss, may people find you and your promise for eternal life made possible through the life, death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus.

Please also be with college students, administrators, faculty and staff around the world.

Make our places of learning a haven of peace and safety.

Grant parents peace when they send their children to college.

Place a barrier of protection around every student.

You have said, "blessed are the peacemakers."

Make us all peacemakers on this day and in the days to come.

Amen.

Why I Believe in Handgun Control

The 7:00 news has ended, and I have watched Brian Williams report for 30 solid minutes on today's tragedy at Virginia Tech. My heart is aching. The pictures and the stories have made me sick to my stomach. I cannot imagine being one of the parents -- a mother who sent a son off to Virginia Tech in the fall -- only to sit at home tonight wondering why I have not yet heard from him. I cannot imagine being one of the students in the classroom where a semi-automatic weapon was reloaded in front of my eyes in order for more shots to be fired. I cannot imagine being the president of an institution that has faced a day like today -- a day on which his employees will be scrutinized forever because of the emails they sent and the gates and doors they closed or failed to close. Again, my heart is aching, and my prayers are with the entire Virginia Tech community and the town of Blacksburg.

There are a couple of statements that caught my attention from tonight's broadcast. One of the statements is about how the gunman reloaded his weapon and how his weapon held more shots than it would have been able to hold had handgun control legislation not expired a few years ago. The other statement made tonight with complete confidence is, "One thing is for sure. A situation like this one will happen again." This statement is backed up by the spokeswoman at the White House who was quick to say, "The President believes in the right to bear arms." Perhaps the NRA was already concerned about what impact an incident like this one might have on their level of power in Washington.

My father and I have long argued about guns and the right to have them in our homes. When I worked on Capitol Hill in the mid-90s, Dad would send money to the NRA while I would send money to Handgun Control. We stopped sending money when we realized that our contributions were cancelling each other out.

I cannot imagine why anyone in this country needs a semi-automatic handgun. I cannot imagine why anyone needs to own a military style assault weapon. Why on earth should these guns be allowed in the homes of individuals in this country? How long do we have to go as a nation before we see how dangerous these weapons are? Could handgun control have prevented the death of 32+ people today?

One of the 10 Commandments is "Thou Shall Not Kill." Jesus made it very clear that we are to put away our swords. He came preaching peace and forgiveness. He came asking people to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecute them.

God, grant us the courage to follow your commandments. Please be with all individuals in positions of authority and power. Help us to live as people of peace. And please bring healing and comfort to the Blacksburg community on this night and in the days to come. Amen.

Jeep for Sale?

It was quite the morning. I overslept as I had set my alarm for 6:15 p.m. and not 6:15 a.m. Oversleeping during the week is not a big deal. It is a big deal on Sundays, however! I got ready in a hurry and walked out into the pouring rain. My car was parked a block away from my apartment building, and it was finally in sight. I could hardly wait to get inside of it and out of the rain.

As I got closer to the car, I realized that my rear view mirror had fallen off. It has fallen off before, so I was not that concerned. I then noticed a little steam coming off the hood, and then I started to hear the engine. The engine was running. The car was exactly where I had left it -- where I had turned it off and locked the doors -- but the car was running. I then walked around to the passenger side and found the window completely down with rain pouring in. I peaked inside and noticed that the entire key shaft had been torn off. Someone had broken into my car and successfully turned it on. They could not drive it, however, because it had a Club anti-theft device on the steering wheel.

It was quite a morning.

I first called Craig. I then called one of the church's interns to let them know I would be late. And then I phoned the police department. They told me not to get into the car so I stood there -- in the pouring rain.

I soon watched as a police car approached. It was not the car sent for me -- but the officer quickly pulled over and came to my aid. Officer Sarah from the 3rd District was amazing. She was calming and helpful, telling me how easy it is to get into Jeep Cherokees. She then invited me into her car while she collected all of the necessary information. Meanwhile the other officer stood outside, continuing to take notes on my car. The two then followed me downtown to the church, so that I could park it somewhere off the street. And one of the officers showed me how to turn the car off with a screwdriver, reassuring me how easy it is to steal Jeep Cherokees. My car could be turned off and on with a screwdriver!

The people who got my car started did not take anything. They left an expensive pair of sunglasses, several CDs, and my clergy robe. They simply wanted one thing -- to be able to take my car for a joy ride until it ran out of gas. The likely criminal is a young person -- a teenager -- trying to prove himself to his friends. They call it a game - a game that is won when a car is entered, started and stolen.

I call it a call to prayer.

God, please continue to be with all of the people in my neighborhood. Be with the young people who hang out on street corners and huddle around the city blocks. Be with the two young men who threw eggs at my car several weeks ago and with the individuals who successfully got my car door open and the engine started without a key on Saturday night. Reveal yourself to them and to me in a powerful way - in the kind of way that enables all to see what is right and what is wrong.

And God, help me to see where the church can step in when society is falling short. Help us to pray for the neighborhood in which we have our being and the city we are called to serve. Help us to befriend the young and the old, welcoming on the inside those who are too often on the outside. Help us to take an active interest in young people -- especially young men and women who walk too close to the edge. When families have failed them, help us to befriend them. When no one else wants them, help us to love them. Amen.

I am tempted to sell my car and start using Flexcar. Please let me know if anyone is interested in a 2000 Jeep Cherokee 4w4. After the shop completes the $2,600 repair bill, it is going to be in top-notch shape, ready to roll!

Callings and Claims

I have heard a lot about callings this week. Our Wednesday Bible study group started a study on Jeremiah this week, and the prophet's call is outlined in the very first chapter of the book:

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.' Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.' But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the lord. Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth: and the Lord said to me, 'Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

Jeremiah is a boy - still the Lord calls him, telling him that he was consecrated for service in God's kingdom before he was even born. Jeremiah does not know what to do or what to say, still the Lord touches his mouth, giving him exactly what he needs to be a faithful leader.

These are powerful words, and I love reading about the calls of the prophets, the disciples and anyone else in the Bible. But my favorite thing is to hear about how God is calling someone today.

On Tuesday evening, I gathered a group of seminary students in my home in order to talk about their call and the places in which God might call them to serve upon their completion of seminary. Three young adults in their 20s and 30s told the story of how God had set them apart. For one person, it was a difficult ending to a relationship that enabled her to first see God at work. For another person, it was a transforming time in college and in a ministry setting in a far off land that enabled her to see God at work. And for another person, something began to happen in junior high that allowed him to see how God had given him specific gifts that could be used in the church. They were amazing stories, and I felt as though we were standing on holy ground as each story was told.

The stories were received by a seasoned leader in the church who responded by telling stories of what a remarkable privilege it is to be a pastor. He told stories of forgiveness -- including one story of how he forgot a wedding but the bride still forgave him! He told stories of how members of his congregation continued to affirm his gifts, placing a phone call to him each year after he was reappointed to be their pastor to say, "I'm glad your back -- I'm glad that you will be my pastor for another year." And he told stories of a person whose life was almost over. When the person was asked about whether or not he was ready to go on to heaven the person responded, "I cannot imagine any place better than this one."

This month marks the 11th anniversary of my call to ministry. In April of 1996, I was a young Senate staffer who was spending my days in the office of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. I liked what I was doing Monday - Friday, and I was planning to attend law school in the fall of 1997 as I wanted to pursue the dream of having a public office of my own. I had every intention of being a United States Senator myself. But something happened...

In April of 1996, I was invited to serve as a chaperone for a group of young United Methodists from Washington and Baltimore on a trip to New York City. I had never been to NYC before, and I loved the city. I had never been around such raw, vulnerable young people - people who were willing to share with me whatever it was that was on their hearts or in their minds. The excitement of the city combined with the words of these young people started me thinking about what it was that I wanted to do with my life. By Saturday, I had decided that I did not want to go to law school anymore but instead wanted to move to New York City or work with young people for the rest of my life. And on Sunday, my pastor offered a closing prayer, "Dear God, thank you for this trip and for the safety you have given to us. Thank you also for the ways in which you can use experiences like this one to call people. Please be with the individuals who you have called this weekend as they seek to discern your will for their lives."

It was like a bolt of electricity. I had been changed in an instant. I did not go to law school the next year but enrolled in seminary instead. And, I have not looked back once. I, too, cannot imagine anything better than this life.

God, please be with those individuals whom you have called as they discern your will for their lives.

Signs of Resurrection

We celebrated Easter at Mount Vernon Place yesterday. Easter is my favorite Sunday of the entire year. It is a day on which we always get to welcome into the midst of our congregation several visitors -- from here and there and everywhere. It is a day on which we get to get out of bed extra early for a sunrise service at 7:00. It is a day on which we get to see children running around with a sugar high -- the same high I'll have later tonight since I just bought half-price Cadbury eggs! And, it is a day on which we get to proclaim boldly the most amazing story of our Christian faith -- He is Risen! Christ has conquered sin and death and offers us new life, making us a new creation!

I have seen signs of the resurrection often in recent days. Last week, I went to Ground Zero for the first time while in New York City. So many thoughts went through my head as I stood there, looking at the big hole on which a memorial will one day stand. But it was something at the fire station across the street from Ground Zero that caught my attention. Words painted on the side of a fire truck reminded me that he is risen.

I shared the words with the congregation yesterday, reading the names I saw painted on the truck out loud. They are the names of six men -- six fire fighters -- who died on 9/11. However, the message painted underneath their names does not say, "Sorry it's over" or "It is finished." The message painted beneath their names says, "Till we meet again."

This promise of meeting again is impossible without Christ. Without Christ, everything is finished -- over -- complete. Without Christ -- we all perish only to be buried in the ground. But with Christ, we have the assurance that we can live eternally -- that we can meet again -- because he has gone to prepare a place for us and will one day bring us to him. What a blessed promise!

Dennis, our neighbor that often sleeps on the church's lawn, has also given us a sign of the resurrection. At some point last week, a tree in the church's yard was adorned with a variety of little things and little people. There are two dolls with clothes on hanging in the tree and a variety of smaller toys all over the ground. When I asked Dennis about the things, he said, "Easter is coming. You'll have lots of children here on Sunday."

An almost two-year-old boy found the tree yesterday and stood looking at it in pure delight. This same child reminded us of how wonderful new life is as he kept us entertained during the Sunrise Service. The child is a new creation, and Dennis offered a new creation in the tree that once again points towards Christ.

There was one more sign of resurrection today -- a sign that did not delight me but did make me laugh. I was getting out of my car at the church and looked down to see sprinkles of wet white stuff all down the front of my coat. The birds are out again -- they are chirping in the early hours of the morning and sitting in trees above cars all over the city. I hear it's good luck to have a bird poop on you. I'll just call it another sign of new life -- a sign of resurrection.

Solutions at Saks

I spent last weekend in New York City. Out of all of the cities in the world, New York is one of my favorites. It is certainly the most amazing place that I have ever been to in the United States. I love the diversity of people, the excitement coming from the streets, the beautiful buildings, and the hustle and bustle. I also love the shopping -- from the street vendors who sell everything from hot dogs to Pashmina scarfs to my new, $17.50, "Gucci" watch.

My mother also loves to shop. Whenever she is visiting from her small community in Southeast Colorado, we always spend time shopping. New York shopping is very different than Washington shopping, however. In Washington, we spend time in my favorite discount stores -- stores like Filene's Basement. In New York, it is great fun to look around at the large department stores -- stores where you do more looking than buying.

We arrived in New York on Thursday morning, checked into our hotel, and set out for Fifth Avenue. We stopped first at the American Girl Place -- a place that was enough to send my niece into pure delight and me into pure amazement and regret. I had never been to a place with a hair salon for dolls (what is this world coming to?). We then walked across the street to Saks Fifth Avenue.

We had only been inside the doors of the store for two minutes when a woman said, "Hello! Welcome to New York. Where are you visiting from? Please come over. I have a solution for your lips." She proceeded to welcome us to her makeup counter, pull out three chairs for each one of us, and introduce us to one of the new product lines -- a line called, "Solutions."

The woman tempted us to the counter because she promised to have the perfect lipstick for us. An hour later, she had showed us a solution for my oily skin, the wrinkles beneath my eyes, my cracked lips, and my blemishes. An hour later, she had convinced us that we needed the solutions she had to offer. An hour later, we had spent more money on makeup than we ever thought we would. An hour later, we felt absolutely beautiful because she had given us the right solution -- she gave us exactly what we needed, sprinkling the experience with warmth and hospitality.

It all started with the words, "I have a solution for you."

Today is Good Friday. It is a day that always leaves me in tears, wondering how on earth God could love all of us so much that God would send his only Son to die upon a cross. Today is a day on which the Son of God was nailed to a cross for the atonement of our sins -- so that we could be made "at one" with God.

Today, we remember the most amazing solution this world has ever seen. Since the Garden of Eden, people had been stuck in the mess and rubble of their sins. Death was inevitable. Life was scarce. There seemed to be no way out. There was no way out until some 2000 years ago when Jesus, the Son of God, was born into the world. He came announcing solutions for all of our needs.

Too much darkness around you? The light -- my light -- shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never overcome the light.

Afraid of dying or mourning the loss of a loved one? I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me - even thou they die - yet shall they live!

Wondering how on earth anyone could ever love you after all that you have done? I am the Good Shepherd, and the Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. The shepherd even leaves all 99 sheep behind in order to go after the one sheep that is missing.

Do you want to see a different kingdom than the kingdom controlled by the rulers of this world - a kingdom in which the powerful always win, a kingdom ruled by sword and not peace? The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. I welcome everyone -- especially the people no one else wants.

And this is just the beginning of his solutions. He brought a solution for all of our deepest needs. He has a solution for all of our heavy burdens. He has a solution for our longings and our fears. He has a solution for exactly what we need.

Yes, it's Good Friday. It is a day on which a solution -- a painful, awesome, beautiful solution --was created -- for you and for me.

One of Those Weeks

It's been one of those weeks - one of those weeks when you experience the presence of God in real, abundant, vital, life-giving ways. What a joy to experience the following blessings:

1) The phone call of a former parishioner in North Carolina who called to simply say, "We are thinking of you and want to see if you need anything."

2) The visit from one of my current parishioners who made me his version of crab cakes - from canned chicken that his mother received from the government - chicken that would have otherwise not been used. He was so pleased to share his creation with his pastor, complete with garlic sauce in a jar where I could see at least 12 cloves of garlic!

3) The greeting by one of our homeless neighbors on Tuesday morning -- a greeting that began with, "What a glorious morning, Donna" -- from a person who had awakened on the lawn of the church with birds chirping nearby. Oh how many things I take for granted!

4) The email from one of our new members. It was sent to many of her friends and co-workers, inviting them to worship at our church on Palm Sunday and Easter. She mentioned over and over again how much she LOVES her church. What a blessing to have new members like this one!

5) The arrival of my mother and niece from Colorado on Tuesday night.

6) The phone call from my former professor and hero who lives in South Africa but is in the states for two weeks.

7) A visit to the White House where we were greeted and escorted to the door by my mother's Congresswoman -- what incredible constituent service!

8) Glorious -- near perfect -- weather in Washington.

9) The arrival of spring with fresh flowers pushing through the ground all around us.

10) A trip to New York City -- our train departs in one hour!

God is so good. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Sunlight, Hippos, and Blue Sky

Two of our buildings at Mount Vernon Place are finally ready to come down. After a long process of negotiating with developers, the abatement of asbestos, and the removal of windows, the demolition permit is finally ready. The two educational buildings will be demolished after the first of May, and demolition day cannot come soon enough as far as I am concerned -- we have been waiting and waiting and waiting.

The buildings look rather condemned right now. There is no electricity going into the buildings, so the lights remain off. No one is occupying the buildings right now (at least that we know of). Furthermore, there is an ugly fence that goes around the buildings with large "keep out: construction zone" signs posted at the entrance. I watch people pass by often throughout the day, wondering what they are thinking when they stop and look at the church. Fortunately, we have banners in different places informing people that while our building is closed our church is still open.

While I know that some of the members of Mount Vernon Place are hurting over the decision to demolish two of our buildings so that something new can emerge, I must admit that there is little remaining charm to these two buildings. The cost of operating the buildings is horrendous. Some of the walls and floors have been in need of repair for some time now. Furthermore, the only way Mount Vernon Place could possibly begin to afford the repair bill for the historic church is through the sale of the property on which these two buildings are situated.

But there is one room in the buildings that catches my attention each time I walk by the church now. There is one place where a glimmer of life still shines. From Massachusetts Avenue you can see painted on the wall a bright blue sky, a hippo swimming in the water, and a brilliant orange sun shining for all to see. I never appreciated this room before, when children were still using it. But now the room is the only thing that speaks to me, seemingly calling out, "why would you let go of this?"

The room reminds me a lot of my journey at Mount Vernon Place. When I was appointed as the pastor of the church in the summer of 2005, I was told often about how the congregation had decided that it had done what it could do and that they would one day close the doors, returning the property to the Baltimore-Washington Conference. When I arrived, there was a large sum of money in the bank, and the congregation had voted to spend this money on whatever it wanted, keeping different activities going even though the congregation had dwindled to a small, remaining remnant and the activities were not bringing many new people into the congregation. "We voted to spend this money and once it is gone, we'll give the church back to the conference," I was told time and again. The money would last for four years at the rate the congregation was spending -- something that caused me serious concern.

For the last 20 months, I have been trying to find the places where there is still a glimmer of life at Mount Vernon Place. I have been looking for the places where bright sunlight is still shining, where hippos are still swimming, and where a blue sky still provides calm -- in a church where the membership roster once had over 4500 names but where the active membership is now 88.

What has amazed me is how easy it has been to find the sunlight, hippos and blue sky. The members of Mount Vernon Place represent an uncanny ability to be absolutely resilient. I know of no other pastor in the country who arrived at a church with a 92-year-old Finance Chair, a 90-year-old Lay Leader and a 96-year-old chair of Staff Parish Relations. What sunlight -- to have people serving so faithfully in their 90s!

We have a Minister of Music who has been at the church over 30 years. She has watched her choir soar to the place where everyone could not fit in the loft and dwindle to a remaining 7 faithful voices. Still, she continues in her role, along with her husband who is the one at the church who is always willing to lend a hand no matter what the task is. What sunlight!!

We have a group of older adults who gather for Bible study once a week. They drive in from Northern Virginia to meet in our trailer where at the ages of 80 and 90, they continue to struggle with how to be more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. What sunlight!!

And now there are new pockets of sunlight pouring into Mount Vernon Place. We have new members who are taking active roles in the life of the congregation. We have new condominiums and apartment buildings going up all around us -- thousands of new residents who call our neighborhood home. We have new ministries that have emerged from a prayer shawl knitting ministry to a ministry for men on Saturday mornings. We have been collecting different things for Easter baskets for a ministry that serves homeless children and women, and people have given so faithfully. We have two very gifted interns from a nearby seminary. We have people going out into the community to serve in the name of the Lord. We have an atmosphere in worship where people can come just as they are and share whatever it is that is on their hearts. What sunlight!

The sun is still shining, the hippos are still swimming and the blue sky is providing calm!!

We're going to destroy two of our buildings soon so that something new can emerge. Still, Mount Vernon Place's doors are not closing. We intend for them to stay open well beyond four years from now. We are building a building that we hope will still be providing a beacon of light to the city 100 years from now. And, slowly but surely, many of our members who once said, "We'll spend our money and then close" are now excited -- not about closing the church but about making sure that the doors stay open in the decades to come.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.

New Life in the Tree

The Garden of Eden that once appeared in a tree at Mount Vernon Place was removed long ago. When the Barbie doll figurines, the plastic snake and the bright bandanna disappeared, I knew it would not be long before something new would emerge in the tree. My colleague, Nathan, pointed out to me this week that our neighbor, Dennis, has again created a theological masterpiece in the tree outside of the church.

The crucified Christ is hanging in the tree. It is positioned on top of a beautiful cross that looks more like new life, with flowers and greenery coming up from the bottom. All of these things are then glued on several large, beautiful shells. At the bottom of the work you can see small, colorful beads glued together and several smaller shells. And, Dennis added bright colored M&Ms inside the shell -- M&Ms that were no longer there when I showed the shell to a friend yesterday.


When Nathan asked Dennis where everything came from, Dennis did not seem to want to talk about his work of art. I have not seen Dennis this week to ask him about his creation or what everything means, but I do keep thinking about this piece -- the shells, the crucified Christ, the signs of new life, and the placement of the M&Ms. I continue to believe that Dennis has a lot to teach me about Jesus.

Jesus came so that all might have life -- life abundant and life with out end. Jesus called people to give the hungry something to eat, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick -- to ensure that people have the basic necessities of life. Jesus inaugurated a new kind of kingdom -- a kingdom that stands in stark contrast to the ways of this world. In Jesus' kingdom, everyone is taken care of. In Jesus' kingdom, everyone has a place to call home.

Dennis has a place to call home -- but it looks nothing like my home. His home does not have a heater or an air conditioner. It does not have a lock that can keep his belongings safe or even a door that he can close in order to keep people or rats outside. While I go in and out of the church, Dennis spends most of his days on the church's lawn. I have never seen him eat a full meal. I rarely see him in different clothing. Still, I have never heard him complain -- even on the coldest of days. He often has a kind word to say, and he always takes time to call me by name.

Dennis brings signs of God's presence to our church. Through the Garden of Eden, he reminded us of a time when everything was just right. Through the newest creation, he reminds us that resurrection and new life are taking place all around us -- because of the death of Christ on a cross.

I wonder what Dennis has received from us. Has Dennis learned anything from the people who go in and out of our church? Has he received any signs pointing towards how we are a people who are trying to work to make all things right once again, through the grace of God? Has he received any signs of resurrection and new life from us? Have we given him a glimpse of grace?

Like I said, Dennis has a lot to teach me about Jesus and what it means to faithfully follow him.

Expired

I took two pictures this week of signs hanging at the Mount Vernon Square / Convention Center Metro stop. One of the signs was hung in late November advertising "97 & 1 Fun Holiday Things to Do," and the other sign was hung in early January, advertising the Washington Auto Show which was held at the Convention Center January 24 - 28, 2007.

The signs are out of date. They are advertisements for things that are no longer relevant -- things that happened in the past. Still, no one has taken the time to take the signs down. Someone put a "wet floor" post in front of one of the signs this week while another person empties the trash near the other sign throughout the week, but no one has taken the time to remove the signs. The banner and the sign still hang for all to see -- while providing absolutely no helpful guidance or assistance to anyone passing by in the second week of March.

The signs at the Metro have made me think a lot about the church. I know that there are many physical signs in my church's building that point to things that are no longer part of our offerings or activities. One sign outlines the location of several different "departments" at the church that are no longer in existence while also including the Carpenter's Shop, the Sunday School Superintendent's Office, and a dozen or so different Sunday School classes. Times have changed at the church since these signs were installed. These signs will soon come down as part of the renovation -- though no one has taken the time to update them in recent years.

But there are many other things at our churches that are either no longer relevant or out of date. Our churches have a hard time adjusting -- of letting go of things that were helpful and relevant in the past but no longer work today. We continue to do exactly what we have always done, expecting different results in turn (which is the definition of insanity!).

We are in the process of letting go of many things at Mount Vernon Place -- not exactly because we have wanted to, but because a building project has forced us to. In addition to letting go of two buildings about to be demolished and the rest of our property for at least a year, we have let go of some of our staff positions, some of our Sunday school classes, some of our different "ministries" and some traditions. What is happening as we let go, however, is new life is emerging. New things are emerging that make sense for today -- for 2007 -- for the time in which people are moving in all around us -- the time in which we sit at the edge of one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the city.

It is not easy to take down the old. It is easier to let old things remain, especially when we have nothing to take their place and don't like looking at empty space. If someone takes the time to remove the signs at the Metro, then another company or organization can imagine the possibility of their sign -- their advertisement -- in its place. The same is true with the church. It is only after we let go of some of the past that we can envision the future.

As we proceed with our journey through Lent, may we continue to look for the dead, out of date places in our lives -- the scabs of the past. May we continue to let go of the old so that something new may emerge. The process of taking down the old is not always easy, and it sometimes brings more scorn than encouragement. Still, the old, the dead, and the decayed must come down in order for something new and living to emerge.

The Community Created by Craigslist

We have continued the process of cleaning out the church building as it appears that the renovation of the historic building is going to finally commence after a long delay. It seems as though the process of cleaning out the church is never-ending. When you open a closet door, you never know what you are going to find. Furthermore, there are several rooms at the church where the door has remained closed for decades -- literally.

We found an entire woodworking studio at the church. It's true that some of the directories at the church point to "The Carpenter's Studio" but I had never seen the room myself until recently. We found three big pieces of equipment that made everything from bookshelves to offering plates. We don't have many carpenters in the church today, however. It's time to let these things go.

The church also had what seemed to be a piano in every room. We sold several pianos this summer when we started cleaning out the buildings to be demolished. One piano remained, however. It is the piano we have been using for worship in the Undercroft Theatre. But now that we have vacated the space we have a piano that we no longer need. It's time to let it go.

The Carpenter's Shop was full of other items, too, as it has become a storage closet in more recent decades. It seems as though when some things were removed from the church, people would stick the items in the room with the carpenter's equipment and shut the door. We found two porcelain sinks a few weeks ago. I am not sure exactly where they were installed in the church when they were once used. I only know that we do not need them now. It's time to let them go.

Add to this mix a half a dozen filing cabinets and countless chairs that have been discovered in recent days, and we have too much stuff. We have many things that need to go in order for the renovation and repair work to begin. As a result, we have been selling or giving away things on Craigslist.

I never knew about Craigslist until I moved to Washington in 2005. I now know that one can find anything and everything on Craigslist from a job to a rocking chair, a night of romance to a place to park your car. Craigslist offers pretty much whatever it is that you want or think you need. It costs nothing to post on the site or respond to someone else's posting. Furthermore, the things being sold on the site are often sold at a bargain price. Most people who post things on Craigslist want to simply get rid of something, knowing that someone else is in need of what they no longer want.

I have used Craigslist often in order to advertise the church's yard sales or to get ride of things the church no longer needs. Craigslist has helped the church raise thousands of dollars for missions while also allowing us to meet many of our neighbors who have come in to get something. Craigslist has also taught me a few things:

1) Your trash may be someone else's treasure.
2) There are a lot of lonely people in Washington who will do anything to find companionship or intimacy -- even if just for a night.
3) There is joy that comes when you give things away, knowing that the person taking them from you needs exactly what you have to offer.
4) There is no need to charge someone more money than what an item is worth. People get excited when they know they are getting a bargain, and it is fun to watch the excitement.
5) People will buy things for a variety of purposes -- tables for a party in someone's apartment on Saturday night, chairs for a wedding, antique sinks for a historic home, filing cabinets for a non-profit organization, kitchen equipment for a restaurant that is yet to be open.

I wish more people and businesses in our community operated under the principles of Craigslist -- don't charge more than is necessary, give things away whenever you can, never throw something away without first trying to recycle the item, do whatever you can to meet your neighbors, offer hospitality to strangers, lend a hand when you can by helping someone load a car or truck, use your gifts to meet the needs of another person, and let go of things you no longer need. Can you imagine this community? I can.

A Snow Day in Washington!

Asbestos Abatement

For the last several weeks, Mount Vernon Place has been undergoing a serious type of surgery. Like cancer that has overtaken an individuals body, our two buildings that are about to be demolished are filled with asbestos. There is asbestos in the floors, in the walls, in the ceilings and around the pipes. In fact, there is enough asbestos to fill an entire trailer when it is all removed.

I have learned a lot about asbestos in the last several months. I now know that it was used as a way of fireproofing parts of the building, as an absorber of sound in other parts of the building, and as a form of insulation. It appears that asbestos was a rather useful product. Like polybutylene pipes, asbestos was once believed to be a great thing. While polybutylene pipes could wind and bend around a house, they are now the reason why many houses have experienced devastation as a result of their leaks. While asbestos was once an inexpensive solution to many building issues, it is now the cause of the most expensive litigation in history, involving over 6000 defendants and 600,000 claimants because breathing the substance can cause significant health problems.

As a result of the asbestos in our buildings, we cannot simply demolish them and move forward. Instead, the asbestos must be carefully removed before a demolition permit can be received. As a result, the church is spending tens of thousands of dollars to have the asbestos completely removed. The asbestos must be removed before something new can emerge. The asbestos must be taken care of before the project can move forward. The asbestos is an impediment to progress.

Today is Ash Wednesday. On this day, we are reminded that from dust we came and from dust we shall return. This day marks the beginning of the season of Lent -- the season in which we journey towards the cross of Good Friday and the empty tomb of Easter morning. It is also a day on which we begin to search ourselves, asking God to help us see the places of decay within each one of us.

The words of David found in Psalm 51 are often read on Ash Wednesday: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (verses 1,2).

Verse 10 continues, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me."

I started my day today asking God to show me the places in my life where I need a new and right spirit. What are the things in my life that need to be removed? Where are the places of sin and decay?

Like asbestos, we do not always know the aspects of ourselves that are more harmful than they are helpful. There are some things in our life or aspects of our personality that we have grown to simply accept -- believing that the things are not that bad. We try to keep these things hidden, pretending that they do not exist. However, we cannot grow into the individuals God has called us to be until we address the problem. We must be cleansed. We must remove the sin.

The process of removing the sin in our life was paid for long ago -- not with the tens of thousands of dollars used to pay for asbestos abatement, but with Christ's death on a cross. We receive the forgiveness of sins not through a long process of removal, but with a few words, "Have mercy on me, Jesus, a sinner," and accepting the freedom Christ gives us to live a changed life.

Crossing the Street

We crossed the street on Sunday morning. While I cross many streets throughout the week in downtown Washington, this crossing was a significant one as the entire Mount Vernon Place congregation crossed over 9th street from our church to another historic building in downtown D.C.

For the next twelve months, Mount Vernon Place will be worshipping in space that is not our own. The National Music Center at the Carnegie Library has graciously agreed to accept us as Sunday morning tenants while our 1917 building is being completely restored and renovated.


Our new space is stunningly beautiful. It was built at the turn of the century, and many of our members remember coming to the building when it was the main library in Washington. Others remember the building as the City Museum in more recent years. It was wonderful to watch the reactions of these members on Sunday morning as they recalled different times when they had been in the building before.

The space is a gift to us in so many ways. It is, without a doubt, the closest space available that we could find for our Sunday morning worship. I can sit in my new office in the trailer and see the building from my window! It is also a space that we can use for Sunday school, 11:00 worship, and coffee hour following. Furthermore, it is a space where we have been received warmly and wonderfully. We have received incredible hospitality from the staff of the National Music Center -- hospitality that has called to mind the passage from Hebrews that instructs us to "not neglect to show hospitality to strangers."

I have realized often in the last week that our needs as a congregation are being met by our community. A local construction company has set up a trailer for our offices and gathering space during the week. A local organization has opened its doors for our Sunday worship. Our community is serving us in powerful, important, blessed ways.

It is my hope and my prayer that as our needs are met by the community in the coming weeks that we will also be reminded, as a church, how we are called to serve the community around us. I pray we will take every opportunity that we have to show hospitality to strangers when the doors of our building open again. I pray we will be ready to serve others as we are being served now -- whether the other is one in need of food, or shelter, or companionship, or clothing, or anything else.

Thank you, God, for taking care of our needs. Thank you for opening doors for us when other doors closed. Thank you for our neighbors who are caring for our needs. God, use this time to teach us, to shape us, to mold us, and to stretch us. Prepare us for all of the ways that you are going to call us to serve in the years to come. Make us instruments of your peace and of your goodness. Amen.

Blessing and Testimony

In the first week of seminary at Duke Divinity School, my professor of Old Testament read a book excerpt by W.E. Sangster:

To have a cure of souls...is the highest task to which any minister can be called. To stand in the pulpit on Sunday and see the eager and expectant faces of the people turned toward you, and know they have come for worship and for the bit of bread that you have been preparing for them in the week; to feel as you look at them: 'These are my people'; to know that in all the great hours of their life, when they want to be wed, when a child is born into their home, when trouble comes, when the doctor is going in and out, when bereavement robs them of every scrap of joy -- to know that in that hour the door is open, and you not only may go but you must go; that the cry of their heart then is for their minister...to dwell upon that is to know a joy which, to my mind, not even the unquestioned delights of scholarly research can surpass. To receive the confidence of people, to konw the secrets they have told to no other living soul; to blush with them over their sins and exult when them when the sin is flung under the table; to know their private affairs and to be the sharer of their highest ideals, is to have a joy of which not one of us is really worthy. From The Approach to Preaching as recorded in The Upper Room's A Guide to Prayer for Ministers & Other Servants

I have been reminded often in recent days of the incredible privilege I have to be the pastor at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church. Last Sunday, I did something I have never done before. During the serving of communion, I offered people who did not want to receive the elements the opportunity to come forward and receive a blessing. To my delight, I had the awesome gift of placing my hands on the shoulders of four individuals. Two of the people were visitors and two people are members of the church. As I placed my hands on their shoulders and asked God to bless them -- in the highs and lows of their lives -- to be with them in whatever it was that they were facing -- to shine through them in their studies and in their vocation -- to be able to see themselves the way that God sees them - precious -- I realized how rare it is to experience the art of blessing. We say, "God bless you" often when people sneeze, but we rarely take time to really pray that another person will be blessed. It was a powerful experience for me -- one that I will not soon forget and one that I look forward to repeating again soon.

Today, Sangster's words took on a whole new meaning for me as one of our new members stood and offered a testimony. As part of our time of sharing celebrations and concerns, this woman rose in front of the congregation to tell them what a blessing they were to her. She then talked about how she had been embraced by the congregation and how she had been able to confess her sins as a result of our community of faith and receive a word of truth that led to forgiveness. Her testimony was the culmination of that sin being "flug under the table" once and for all. It was an amazing, powerful moment.

There is something happening at Mount Vernon Place -- something that enables me to experience the presence and the power of the living God whenever we gather. I see people growing in their faith. I see people taking delight in each other and the ways in which they see God at work in their life. I see individuals desiring to go out and serve the needs of the community. And, I see myself loving "my people" in ways that I have never loved them before. What a privilege it is to be a pastor -- a joy for which I am truly not worthy.

I can't wait to see what happens next week!

The Garden of Eden

I started noticing a few things hanging from one of the trees on the lawn of the church a few weeks ago. I did not think much about it, however, concluding instead that someone was simply hanging a few things out to dry. But yesterday, I got a full glimpse of the tree when I was outside updating some of our information signs.

What on earth is that? I thought to myself.

I stepped closer and noticed that there were two Barbie dolls in the tree, along with a rubber snake.

I turned around and asked one of our neighbors who was picking up his blankets a few feet away if he knew anything about the tree.

Do you know who did this? I asked.

Yes, Dennis replied.

Did you do this, Dennis? I asked.

Yes, Dennis replied.

Well what is it, Dennis?

It's the Garden of Eden, said Dennis.

Of course, it's the Garden of Eden.

Dennis had created an incredibly creative visual of the story found in Genesis 2 and 3. The story begins with God placing man in the garden of Eden to till it and to keep it. "And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You may freely eat of every tree in the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."

God then makes woman, and the two come together, becoming one flesh.

In the beginning of the third chapter of Genesis, a snake appears. The snake is "more crafty that any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God say, 'You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

The woman replies, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'"

And guess what happens? The woman takes the fruit from the tree and eats it. She then gives some of the fruit to her husband. Their eyes are then opened, and they know they are naked.

The story of the garden of Eden is the story of the first human transgression and the punishment that comes with it. It is the story of man's first sin. Everything was perfect before the man and woman ate from the tree in Eden.

I spent the day wondering why Dennis created his version of the garden of Eden on the church's lawn. Did this creation serve as his reminder that there was a time when everything was right -- when those who had too much shared with those who had too little, when people were not greedy, when all men and women dwelled together in unity?

And why is it that Dennis chooses to sleep in the same place each night -- not next to the church where it might be safer or on the porch where there is a covering, but in the open, under a tree -- a few feet away from a wooden cross? Why does he go away each day only to return to this same spot each night?

While Dennis told me tonight that he wasn't thinking theologically when he created the garden, I think Dennis knows a few things that we don't always remember. There was a time when everything was right -- when there would be absolutely no reason for anyone to be without food or shelter. This time is represented by the garden he created.

There is also a time coming when everything will be made right. Jesus came so that we might have life and life abundant. Through his life, he taught us how to live -- how to share and care for one another. Through the cross, he triumphed over sin and death -- assuring us that he will always have the final word.

Dennis' garden was taken down today. Someone removed the things from the tree, along with his collection of blankets hidden in the bushes. When I asked Dennis if he needed to go to a shelter tonight, he assured me that he would be just fine. He was disappointed that his things were gone, but he was still smiling.

I look forward to seeing Dennis tomorrow. And, I'll be keeping my eye on the tree. It won't be long, I am sure, until more things will appear in the tree. And if I keep my eyes open, I may learn a thing or two.

What Justice Looks Like

We started a new study on last Sunday night on N.T. Wright’s new book, Simply Christian.
Our discussion of the book began with the place from which Wright begins his book -- on the topic of justice. N.T. Wright believes that we all have in our minds an ideal for the perfect world – a world in which everything is fair and all things work out for the best. This ideal is a world where we not only are aware of what is right and what we should do, but how we actually live our lives in a way which is right. Yet, just as we gain a glimpse of what is right, we wake up from our dream and step into reality.

N.T. Wright pens on page four, and I quote, “It’s as though we can hear, not perhaps a voice itself, but the echo of a voice: a voice speaking with calm, healing authority, speaking about justice, about things being put to rights, about peace and hope and prosperity for all. The voice continues to echo in our imagination, our subconscious. We want to go back and listen to it again, but having woken up we can’t get back into the dream. Other people sometimes tell us it was just a fantasy, and we’re half-inclined to believe them, even though that condemns us to cynicism.”

As part of the discussion last week, we were asked to share what this dream looks like for us. What is our dream of justice?

One of the things I mentioned in response to the question is how my dream of justice is one in which there are no more gray blankets filling the nooks and crannies, window wells and alleys of this city. I have noticed these blankets more often in recent weeks than I have ever noticed them before. I have found the blankets on the steps of our church and in the corners of our porches. The blankets have caught my eye as I have walked through several public parks. One can see them stuffed behind trees and hidden behind bushes. They are worn as capes by homeless men and women. The blankets seem to be everywhere, and each blanket I see represents a person whose body is colder than mine is on this night. Each blanket I see represents a person whose body is colder than mine on most winter nights. Each blanket I see reminds me how not everything has been made right – at least not yet.

But in my dream, there are no blankets. In my dream, everyone has a place to call “home” – where their belongings are kept safe, where the seats around the kitchen table are occupied by family members having dinner together each evening, and where a warm, cozy bed is readily available for all people – a bed covered not with a gray blanket but with a down-filled, colorful comforter on top.

We have a long way to go before this dream is a reality. In fact, there are times when I don't even have a clue as to where to start making the dream a reality. But one thing is for certain -- the blankets no longer fade into the scenary of the city as they once used to do. Instead, the blankets remind me of our neighbors -- the men and women who sleep near the church -- the people who will be covered with gray blankets on this chilly night.

God, may your presence be known to Caroline and Clifton, Michael and Dennis, and to everyone else who does not have a place to call home.

What is your dream of justice?

NOTE: This discussion inspired today's sermon. You may read the full text later in the week on the Mount Vernon Place UMC website. You may also come and join us as we continue the discussion on Simply Christian.